Electronic device with environmental monitoring

ABSTRACT

An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the acoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Based on the acoustic data, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the environmental monitoring device may determine if a smoke detector is activated based on measurements of sound, such as a temporal 3 acoustic pattern. In addition, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in the external environment. The control mechanism may use the sensor data to assess a degree of threat in the external environment, and the environmental monitoring device may output different audible sounds as the degree of threat changes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to: U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/847,079, entitled “Lighting Devicewith Environmental Monitoring System,” by Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y.Chan, Andrew G. Stevens, and Bjorn H. Hovland, Attorney docket numberLEEO-02, filed on Jul. 16, 2013; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/847,555, entitled “Safety Detector with Environmental MonitoringSystem,” by Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan, Andrew G. Stevens, and BjornH. Hovland, Attorney docket number LEEO-03, filed on Jul. 17, 2013; andU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/858,563, entitled “Switch withEnvironmental Monitoring System,” by Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan,Andrew G. Stevens, and Bjorn H. Hovland, Attorney docket number LEEO-04,filed on Jul. 25, 2013, the contents of all of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The described embodiments relate generally to an environmentalmonitoring device, and more specifically to techniques for monitoringenvironmental conditions in an environment and accordingly modifyingoperation of the environmental monitoring device.

2. Related Art

Trends in connectivity and in portable electronic devices are resultingin dramatic changes in people's lives. For example, the Internet nowallows individuals access to vast amounts of information, as well as theability to identify and interact with individuals, organizations andcompanies around the world. This has resulted in a significant increasein online financial transactions (which are sometimes referred to as‘ecommerce’). Similarly, the increasingly powerful computing andcommunication capabilities of portable electronic device (such assmartphones), as well as a large and growing set of applications, areaccelerating these changes, providing individuals access to informationat arbitrary locations and the ability to leverage this information toperform a wide variety of tasks.

Recently, it has been proposed these capabilities be included in otherelectronic devices that are located throughout our environments,including those that people interact with infrequently. In the so-called‘Internet of things,’ it has been proposed that future versions of theseso-called ‘background’ electronic devices be outfitted with morepowerful computing capabilities and networking subsystems to facilitatewired or wireless communication. For example, the background electronicdevices may include: a cellular network interface (LTE, etc.), awireless local area network interface (e.g., a wireless network such asdescribed in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 standard or Bluetooth™ from the Bluetooth Special InterestGroup of Kirkland, Wash.), and/or another type of wireless interface(such as a near-field-communication interface). These capabilities mayallow the background electronic devices to be integrated intoinformation networks, thereby further transforming people's lives.

However, the overwhelming majority of the existing background electronicdevices in people's homes, offices and vehicles have neither enhancedcomputing capabilities (such as processor that can execute a widevariety of applications) nor networking subsystems. Given the economicsof many market segments (such as the consumer market segment), theseso-called ‘legacy’ background electronic devices (which are sometimesreferred to as ‘legacy electronic devices’) are unlikely to be rapidlyreplaced. These barriers to entry and change are obstacles to widelyimplementing the Internet of things.

Furthermore, there remain many environments (such as the interiors oftrucks, trains, boxes, etc.) that currently do not regularly includeelectronic devices. As a consequence, it may also be difficult to extendthe advantages of connectivity and enhanced computing capabilities intothese environments.

In addition, many of the existing background electronic devices used inpeople's homes, offices and vehicles are difficult to use. For example,it is often challenging to replace a battery or to modify the functionsof these existing background electronic devices.

Hence, there is a need for an environmental monitoring device thataddresses the above-described problems.

SUMMARY

The described embodiments relate to an environmental monitoring devicethat includes an acoustic sensor that provides acoustic data based onmeasurements of sound in an external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device. Moreover, the environmental monitoringdevice includes a control mechanism that determines if an alarm device,which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activatedbased on the acoustic data.

Note that the alarm device may include a smoke detector, and the controlmechanism may determine if the smoke detector is activated based on atemporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an American NationalStandards Institute standard S3.42 1990.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device furtherincludes an acoustic output mechanism. The control mechanism may providean output signal that indicates the alarm device is activated. Moreover,the acoustic output mechanism may output audible sound in the externalenvironment based on the output signal.

Additionally, the environmental monitoring device may include a sensormechanism that provides sensor data based on measurements of anenvironmental condition in the external environment. The controlmechanism may assess a degree of threat in the external environmentbased on the sensor data and may modify the output signal when thethreat changes. Moreover, the acoustic output mechanism may change theaudible sound based on the modified output signal.

For example, the change to the audible sound may provide quantitativefeedback about the degree of the threat.

In some embodiments, the sensor mechanism includes a smoke detector andthe alarm device includes a carbon-monoxide detector. Alternatively, thesensor mechanism may include a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarmdevice may include a smoke detector.

Furthermore, the sensor mechanism may provide sensor data when abiological life form is present in the external environment.Additionally, the environmental monitoring device may include: anantenna, and an interface circuit that communicates that the biologicallife form is present to an electronic device in response to an outputsignal from the control mechanism, where the control mechanismdetermines if the biological life form is present in the externalenvironment based on the sensor data, and provides another output signalif the alarm device is activated and the biological life form ispresent.

In some embodiments, the interface circuit communicates a location ofthe environmental monitoring device to the electronic device in responseto the output signal.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for determining if an alarm deviceis activated, which may be performed by the control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device. During operation, the control mechanismreceives the acoustic data from the acoustic sensor in the environmentalmonitoring device, where the acoustic data is based on the sound in theexternal environment that includes the environmental monitoring device.Then, the control mechanism determines if the alarm device, which isseparate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated based onthe acoustic data.

The preceding summary is provided as an overview of some exemplaryembodiments and to provide a basic understanding of aspects of thesubject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-describedfeatures are merely examples and should not be construed as narrowingthe scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way.Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter describedherein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description,Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electronic devices communicatingin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an environmental monitoringdevice of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a data structure with sensor datain the electronic device of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an archive device of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a data structure with ahistorical record in the archive device of FIG. 4 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a front view of an environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a front view of an environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 9 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining a metricin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 11 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining if analarm device is activated in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating communication between an environmentalmonitoring device and the alarm device during the method of FIG. 13 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing an alertbased on an alert setting in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating communication between an environmentalmonitoring device and an electronic device during the method of FIG. 15in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing an alertin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating communication between an environmentalmonitoring device and an alarm device during the method of FIG. 17 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for illuminating atleast a portion of an external environment in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 19 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of anenvironmental monitoring device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing sensordata in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an environmental monitoringdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a drawing illustrating an environmental monitoring device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing an alertin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a mounting system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for mounting theenvironmental monitoring device of FIG. 26 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a mounting system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for mounting theenvironmental monitoring device of FIG. 28 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same partare designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by adash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor isdescribed. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, theacoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound inan external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice. Based on the acoustic data, a control mechanism determines if analarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoringdevice, is activated. For example, the environmental monitoring devicemay determine if a smoke detector is activated based on measurements ofsound, such as a temporal 3 acoustic pattern. In addition, a sensormechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor databased on measurements of an environmental condition in the externalenvironment. The control mechanism may use the sensor data to assess adegree of threat in the external environment, and the environmentalmonitoring device may output different audible sounds as the degree ofthreat changes.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring,analysis and feedback about the alarm device and the externalenvironment. Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may performthese functions without directly interacting with the alarm device.Consequently, these capabilities may allow the environmental monitoringdevice to provide additional services by supplementing the alarm deviceinstead of requiring that the alarm device be replaced. In addition tobeing more cost effective, this approach may significantly increase therate of adoption of the environmental monitoring device, therebyenhancing commercial activity. Furthermore, the additional services mayenhance customer satisfaction with both the alarm device and theenvironmental monitoring device.

Communication between electronic devices (such as the environmentalmonitoring device and an alarm device) may utilize wired, optical and/orwireless communication. For example, the wireless communication mayinvolve communicating packets or frames that are transmitted andreceived by radios in the electronic devices in accordance with acommunication protocol, such as: Bluetooth™′ (from the Bluetooth SpecialInterest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 standard (such as ZigBee® from theZigBee® Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.), an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, Z-Wave, a power-linecommunication standard, an infra-red communication standard, a universalserial bus (USB) communication standard, a near-field-communicationstandard or specification (from the NFC Forum of Wakefield, Mass.),another wireless ad-hoc network standard, and/or another type ofwireless interface. In some embodiments, the communication protocol maybe compatible with a 2^(nd) generation or mobile telecommunicationtechnology, a 3^(rd) generation of mobile telecommunications technology(such as a communication protocol that complies with the InternationalMobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the InternationalTelecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), a 4^(th) generation ofmobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocolthat complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications Advancedspecification by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva,Switzerland), and/or another cellular-telephone communication technique.For example, the communication protocol may include Long Term Evolutionor LTE. In the discussion that follows, ZigBee® is used as anillustrative example. In addition, the communication may occur via awide variety of frequency bands, including frequencies associated withthe so-called ‘white space’ in frequencies bands associated with analogtelevision broadcasting.

The communication between the electronic devices is shown in FIG. 1,which presents a block diagram illustrating communication amongenvironmental monitoring devices 110, optional electronic devices 114(such as regulator devices e.g., optional electronic device 114-2,and/or legacy electronic devices, e.g., optional electronic device114-1) and data-sharing electronic device 118 using wireless signals,and communication with optional computer 120 and optional network 122(such as the Internet, a wireless local area network, an Ethernetnetwork, an intra-net, an optical network, etc.) and aggregating orarchive device 116 (which may or may not involve wireless signals). Asdescribed further below with reference to FIGS. 11-29, environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may monitor environmental conditions in anenvironment 112 (which is sometimes referred to as an ‘externalenvironment’), such as a portion of a building, the building, acontainer or a package, a vehicle, a liquid, and/or a train car. (Notethat one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 may be immersedin a liquid, and environment 112 may be at a fixed location ortime-varying locations.) For example, at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may include sensors that provide sensor data thatreflects the environmental conditions in environment 112. In general,the sensor data may be provided without or excluding interaction (suchas communication and/or electrical coupling) between environmentalmonitoring devices 110 and optional electronic devices 114. Thus,sensors in environmental monitoring devices 110 may indirectly inferinformation about the operation and/or the performance of optionalelectronic devices 114 based on the monitored environmental conditions.However, in some embodiments at least some of environmental monitoringdevices 110 interact directly with at least some of optional electronicdevices 114 (via communication or electrical coupling), therebyfacilitating direct measurement of the sensor data, as well as feedbackcontrol of these electronic devices by at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110. In some embodiments, one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 is integrated into one or moreother electronic device, such as one or more of optional electronicdevices 114.

The sensor data may be analyzed locally by at least one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 and/or remotely by archive device 116. Moreover,the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be communicatedamong environmental monitoring devices 110. In particular, environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may form a ZigBee® mesh network, with ZigBee® enddevices communicating with a ZigBee® coordinator (such as environmentalmonitoring device 110-1) via one or more optional ZigBee® routers. Then,environmental monitoring device 110-1 may communicate (wirelessly and/orvia optional computer 120 and optional network 122) the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data to archive device 116.

In addition, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may becommunicated or shared with one or more other electronic devices, suchas data-sharing electronic device 118 (e.g., a cellular telephone or aportable electronic device) and/or remote servers or computers not shownin FIG. 1. For example, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor datamay be communicated to data-sharing electronic device 118 by at leastsome of environmental monitoring devices 110, such as the one or moreoptional ZigBee® routers and/or the ZigBee® coordinator. (Thus, at leastsome of environmental monitoring devices 110 may function as sensor-datahubs for other environmental monitoring devices 110.) Alternatively, thesensor data, the analyzed sensor data and/or operational information(such as remaining battery life) about at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may be communicated to data-sharing electronicdevice 118 by archive device 116 using wired, optical and/or wirelesscommunication. Data-sharing electronic device 118 may display or providethis information to a user. In some embodiments, data-sharing electronicdevice 118 compares the information from multiple environmentalmonitoring devices 110 to ensure consistency before presenting theinformation to the user. This may reduce the likelihood of false alarmsor misinformation. Alternatively, data-sharing electronic device 118 canpresent comparisons of the information from multiple environmentalmonitoring devices 110.

In general, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data that iscommunicated and/or stored by environmental monitoring devices 110and/or archive device 116 may be protected. For example, the sensor datamay be encrypted, digitally signed and/or securely hashed (such as usinga one-way cryptographic hash function) by environmental monitoringdevices 110. Furthermore, archive device 116 may store the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data in secure, certified historical recordsor logs of the environmental conditions in environment 112. Inprinciple, the information stored by archive device 116 may beprotected. However, in some embodiments, users of environmentalmonitoring devices 110, who, in general, control how their data is usedand shared, may instruct environmental monitoring devices 110 toprovide, via the mesh network, information to archive device 116 thatallows archive device 116 to unprotect the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data. Similarly, in response to requests from authorizedrecipients for the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data (such asa request from data-sharing electronic device 118), archive device 116may provide access to the stored sensor data and/or the analyzed sensordata. If the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data are protected,the associated environmental monitoring devices 110 may provideprotection information to data-sharing electronic device 118 that allowsdata-sharing electronic device 118 to unprotect the sensor data and/orthe analyzed sensor data.

Environmental monitoring devices 110 may allow a variety of services tobe offered to: users associated with environmental monitoring devices110 (such as owners or renters of these environmental monitoringdevices), suppliers of components or spare parts, maintenance personnel,insurance companies, insurance brokers, realtors, leasing agents,apartment renters, hotel guests, hotels, restaurants, businesses,organizations, governments, potential buyers of physical objects, ashipping or transportation company, etc. For example, as describedfurther below with reference to FIGS. 13-20, based on the analyzedsensor data feedback about the operation of one or more of optionalelectronic devices 114 (such as a legacy electronic device) may beprovided by one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 ondisplays, using speakers and, more generally, on physiological outputdevices that provide sensory information (such as lighting or anillumination pattern). Thus, a user may be alerted if a legacyelectronic device is activated or if it is not functioning properly.More generally, the feedback may indicate the presence of anenvironmental condition in environment 112, such as: presence of anallergen, fire, flooding, a power outage, a chemical contaminant, aninfestation, opening of a door, an individual getting out of bed, anindividual waking up, an individual crying, an individual tossing andturning in bed, an individual shivering, a change in health condition ofan individual (such as an illness, a chronic disease, etc.), etc.

In addition, environmental monitoring devices 110 may include a varietyof features to facilitate the monitoring of the environmental conditionand the providing of the feedback. For example, as described furtherbelow with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, at least one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may include an imaging device that has differentspatial sensitivity in different regions of environment 112, whichdefines a field of view of the imaging device. Moreover, as describedfurther below with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22, during operation of atleast one of environmental monitoring devices 110 may heat generated bya processor (and, more generally, a processing subsystem) may result ina convective fluid flow (such as a liquid flow or airflow) over one ormore sensors in a sensor mechanism in one of environmental monitoringdevices 110 that facilitates the monitoring. Alternatively oradditionally, a forced fluid driver (such as a fan) may produce thefluid flow. Furthermore, as described further below with reference toFIGS. 23-25, at least one of environmental monitoring devices 110 mayinclude a power source with a primary power source and a secondary powersource. The secondary power source may have at least a 10-year life(and, more generally, an N-year life, where N is an integer, such as5-20 years), and may power at least a subset of the functionality of atleast the one of environmental monitoring devices 110 in the event theprimary power source fails or there is a power outage. For example, asensor mechanism in one of environmental monitoring devices 110 mayinclude a smoke detector and/or a carbon-monoxide detector that ispowered by the secondary power source in the event the primary powersource fails. Additionally, as described further below with reference toFIGS. 26-29, at least one of environmental monitoring devices 110 may beremateably mounted to a base that is on or underneath a wall inenvironment 112. If the one of environmental monitoring devices 110 isremoved from a spatial location of the base without first receiving asecurity code, this environmental monitoring device 110 may provide analert, thereby determining theft or tampering.

Additionally, one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110provide a maintenance notification based on the analyzed sensor data,which is associated with the operation of one of optional electronicdevices 114 (such as a legacy electronic device or an electronic devicethat is included in a feedback loop with one of environmental monitoringdevices 110) and/or which represents an environmental condition inenvironment 112. For example, the maintenance notification may includean instruction to replace a battery. In addition, the maintenancenotification and any subsequent remedial action (such as a repair orservice performed on one of optional electronic devices 114) may bestored in a historical record or log for environment 112 (such as ahistorical record maintained by archive device 116).

In some embodiments, a regulator device (such as one of optionalelectronic devices 114, e.g., a thermostat, a humidifier, an airpurifier, a ventilator device, a fan, a motor, a window opener, a dooropener, an access-control device for the environment, etc.) thatregulates an environmental condition is modified based on a comparisonof the sensor data and a target value of the environmental condition inenvironment 112. For example, one of environmental monitoring devices110 may provide a control signal to the regulator device to modify anenvironmental condition (such as the temperature, humidity, airflow,etc.) based on a comparison of the sensor data and a target valueperformed by the environmental monitoring device.

In these ways, environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or archivedevice 116 may be used to: implement an information network with one ormore legacy electronic devices; securely aggregate and selectivelydisseminate sensor data about environmental conditions; provide feedbackabout one or more environmental conditions in environment 112 (such asan alert provided by one of optional electronic devices 114); allowusers to remotely control alerts provided by environmental monitoringdevices 110 by modifying alert settings of environmental monitoringdevices 110; dynamically change illumination patterns in environment112; and facilitate monitoring and maintaining of one or moreenvironmental conditions in environment 112.

As noted previously, the communication between environmental monitoringdevices 110, optional electronic devices 114, archive device 116,data-sharing electronic device 118 and/or optional computer 120 mayinvolve the exchange of packets. These packets may be included in framesin one or more wireless channels.

Moreover, as described further below with reference to FIG. 2,environmental monitoring devices 110, archive device 116, data-sharingelectronic device 118, optional computer 120 and/or optionally some ofoptional electronic devices 114 (such as optional electronic device114-2) may include subsystems, such as: a networking subsystem, a memorysubsystem, a processing subsystem, an optional user-interface subsystem,and a sensor subsystem. In addition, these electronic devices mayinclude radios 126 in the networking subsystems. More generally,environmental monitoring devices 110, archive device 116, data-sharingelectronic device 118, optional computer 120 and/or optionally some ofoptional electronic devices 114 can include (or can be included within)any electronic devices with networking subsystems that enable wirelesslycommunication with another electronic device. This can comprisetransmitting frames on wireless channels to enable the electronicdevices to make initial contact, followed by exchanging subsequentdata/management frames (such as connect requests or petitions toestablish a connection or link), configuring security options (e.g.,encryption on a link or in a mesh network), transmitting and receivingpackets or frames, etc.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, wireless signals 124 (represented by a jaggedline) are transmitted from/received by radios 126 in environmentalmonitoring devices 110, data-sharing electronic device 118, optionalcomputer and/or optionally some of optional electronic devices 114 (suchas optional electronic device 114-2). In general, wireless communicationamong these electronic devices may or may not involve a connection beingestablished between the electronic devices, and therefore may or may notinvolve communication via a wireless network. (Note that thecommunication between optional computer 120 and archive device 116 mayoccur via optional network 122, which may involve wired or opticalcommunication with a different communication protocol than wirelesssignals 124.)

Furthermore, the processing of a packet or frame in an electronic device(such as environmental monitoring device 110-1) may include: receivingwireless signals 124 with the packet or frame; decoding/extracting thepacket or frame from received wireless signals 124 to acquire the packetor frame; and processing the packet or frame to determine informationcontained in the packet or frame (such as at least a portion of acertified data packet).

As noted previously, in general communication among the electronicdevices may be protected. This may involve encryption using anencryption key (such as an encryption key associated with one ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 and/or a secure channel in aprocessor in one of environmental monitoring devices 110). Theencryption key may use symmetric or asymmetric encryption techniques.Alternatively or additionally, a secure hash function (such as SHA-256)may be used. For example, the secure hash may supplement encryption thatis associated with a network interface in one or more of environmentalmonitoring devices 110.

Although we describe the environment shown in FIG. 1 as an example, inalternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronicdevices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more orfewer electronic devices.

We now describe embodiments of the environmental monitoring device, thearchive device, and other electronic devices in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 presentsa block diagram illustrating environmental monitoring device 200, suchas one of environmental monitoring devices 110. This electronic deviceincludes processing subsystem 210, memory subsystem 212, a networkingsubsystem 214, an optional user-interface subsystem 216, sensorsubsystem 218 (i.e., a data collection subsystem), feedback subsystem232, power subsystem 246 and thermal-management subsystem 252.Processing subsystem 210 includes one or more devices configured toperform computational operations. For example, processing subsystem 210can include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/orone or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

In addition, processing subsystem 210 may include an optional securechannel 220 that performs secure processing of information, securelycommunicates with other components in environmental monitoring device200, and more generally performs secure services. This secure channelmay include one or more processors, a secure boot ROM, one or moresecurity peripherals, and/or other components. The security peripheralsmay be hardware-configured to assist in the secure services performed byoptional secure channel 220. For example, the security peripherals mayinclude: authentication hardware implementing various authenticationtechniques, encryption hardware configured to perform encryption,secure-interface controllers configured to communicate over a secureinterface to other components, and/or other components. In someembodiments, instructions executable by optional secure channel 220 arestored in a trust zone in memory subsystem 212 that is assigned tooptional secure channel 220, and optional secure channel 220 fetches theinstructions from the trust zone for execution. Optional secure channel220 may be isolated from the rest of processing subsystem 210 except fora carefully controlled interface, thus forming a secure region foroptional secure channel 220 and its components. Because the interface tooptional secure channel 220 is carefully controlled, direct access tocomponents within optional secure channel 220 (such as a processor or asecure boot ROM) may be prevented. In some embodiments, optional securechannel 220 encrypts and/or decrypts authentication informationcommunicated with optional user-interface subsystem 216 and/or receivedvia networking subsystem 214, and encrypts and/or decrypts information(such as sensor data) communicated with sensor subsystem 218.

Memory subsystem 212 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 210, networking subsystem214, optional user-interface subsystem 216 and/or sensor subsystem 218.For example, memory subsystem 212 can include dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM, static random access memory (SRAM, and/or other types ofmemory. In some embodiments, instructions for processing subsystem 210in memory subsystem 212 include: one or more program modules 238 or setsof instructions (such as an environmental monitoring application, anenvironmental illumination program, a data-logging application, adata-sharing application and/or a maintenance application), which may beexecuted in an operating environment (such as operating system 236) byprocessing subsystem 210. Note that the one or more computer programsmay constitute a computer-program mechanism or a program module.Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memory subsystem 212may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, anobject-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machinelanguage. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiled orinterpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be usedinterchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by processingsubsystem 210.

In addition, memory subsystem 212 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin environmental monitoring device 200. In some of these embodiments,one or more of the caches is located in processing subsystem 210.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 212 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 212 can be used by environmentalmonitoring device 200 as fast-access storage for often-used data, whilethe mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem 214 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or wireless network(i.e., to perform network operations), including an interface circuit222 (such as a ZigBee® communication circuit) and one or more antennas224. For example, networking subsystem 214 can include: a ZigBee®networking subsystem, a Bluetooth™ networking system (which can includeBluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE or Bluetooth™ LE), a cellular networkingsystem (e.g., a 3G/4G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networkingsystem, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernet networkingsystem, an infra-red communication system, a power-line communicationsystem and/or another communication system (such as anear-field-communication system or an ad-hoc-network networking system).

Moreover, networking subsystem 214 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking or communication system. Note that mechanisms used forcoupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on thenetwork for each network system are sometimes collectively referred toas a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in someembodiments a ‘network’ between the electronic devices does not yetexist. Therefore, environmental monitoring device 200 may use themechanisms in networking subsystem 214 for performing simple wirelesscommunication between environmental monitoring device 200 and otherelectronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising frames, petitions,beacons and/or information associated with near-field communication.

Optional user-interface subsystem 216 may include one or moreprocessors, controllers and devices for receiving information for a userof environmental monitoring device 200. For example, optionaluser-interface subsystem 216 may include a user-interface device 226(and, more generally, a user-input mechanism), such as: a keypad, atouch-sensitive display, optical character recognition, imagerecognition, gesture recognition, biometric recognition (such as afingerprint, a palm print, a retinal pattern, etc.), and/or voicerecognition. The information may include: authentication informationfrom the user (such as a passcode or a security code for unlockingaccess to environmental monitoring device 200, some of the functionalityof environmental monitoring device 200 and/or to allow environmentalmonitoring device 200 to be moved from a current location);user-feedback about a request for access to sensor data associated withenvironmental monitoring device 200; and/or user preferences foroperation of environmental monitoring device 200 (such as alarmsettings, when and/or how to provide notifications, etc.). Thisinformation may be securely communicated to processing subsystem 210(such as by encrypting the information). In addition, the informationcommunicated may also include an encryption key that is specific toenvironmental monitoring device 200 and/or components in environmentalmonitoring device 200, such as optional secure channel 220.

Furthermore, sensor subsystem 218 may include one or more sensor devices228 (or a sensor array), which may include one or more processors andmemory. For example, the one or more sensor devices 228 may include: athermal sensor (such as a thermometer), a humidity sensor, a barometer,a camera or video recorder (such as a CCD or CMOS imaging sensor), oneor more microphones (which may be able to record acoustic information inmono or stereo), an infrared sensor (which may be active or passive), amicroscope, a particle detector (such as a detector of dander, pollen,dust, exhaust, etc.), an air-quality sensor, a particle sensor, anoptical particle sensor, an ionization particle sensor, a smoke detector(such as an optical smoke detector or an ionizing smoke detector), aradon detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, a chemical sensor ordetector, a volatile-organic-compound sensor, a combustible gas sensor,a chemical-analysis device, a mass spectrometer, a microanalysis device,a nano-plasmonic sensor, a genetic sensor (such as a micro-array), anaccelerometer, a position or a location sensor (such as a locationsensor based on the Global Positioning System or GPS), a gyroscope, amotion sensor (such as a light-beam sensor), a contact sensor, a strainsensor (such as a strain gauge), a proximity sensor, a microwave/radarsensor (which may be active or passive), an ultrasound sensor, avibration sensor, a fluid flow sensor, a photo-detector, a Geigercounter, a radio-frequency radiation detector, and/or another devicethat measures a physical effect or that characterizes an environmentalfactor or physical phenomenon (either directly or indirectly).

Moreover, the one or more sensor devices 228 may include redundancy(such as multiple instances of a type of sensor device) to addresssensor failure or erroneous readings, to provide improved accuracyand/or to provide improved precision. Note that sensor data acquired bythe one or more sensor devices 228 may be securely communicated toprocessing subsystem 210 (such as by encrypting the sensor data). Inaddition, the sensor data communicated may also include a digitalsignature that is specific to environmental monitoring device 200 and/orcomponents in environmental monitoring device 200, such as optionalsecure channel 220.

Feedback subsystem 232 may include a display 234 for displayinginformation, such as: feedback about an environmental condition in anenvironment that includes environmental monitoring device 200,information about the operation of environmental monitoring device 200,and/or a maintenance notification associated with a regulator device inthe environment or environmental monitoring device 200 (such as when oneof power sources 248 and 250 needs to be replaced). In particular,feedback subsystem 232 may include a display driver and display 234,such as: a liquid-crystal display, an e-ink display, an organic lightemitting diode display, a braille output device, a laser projectiondisplay, a multi-touch touchscreen, a color-wheel display, etc. Notethat display subsystem 232 may be included in optional user-interfacesubsystem 216.

In addition, feedback subsystem 232 may include one or more lightsources 242 (and, more generally, an illumination mechanism), such as:incandescent light sources, electroluminescent light sources (e.g.,light emitting diodes), etc. These light sources may provide differentillumination patterns, which may be programmable. The differentillumination patterns may have: different spatial patterns in theenvironment that includes environmental monitoring device 200, differentwavelengths of light and/or different light intensities. Thus, aparticular illumination pattern may illuminate at least a portion of theenvironment.

During operation of environmental monitoring device 200, processingsubsystem 210 may execute one or more program modules 238, such as anenvironmental monitoring application. In particular, environmentalmonitoring application may instruct one or more sensor devices 228 tomeasure or acquire sensor data that represents one or more environmentalconditions in an environment that includes environmental monitoringdevice 200. For example, the environmental condition may include:presence of an individual (such as a resident or a potential burglar),opening of a door, an individual getting out of bed, an individualwaking up, an individual crying, an individual tossing and turning inbed, an individual shivering, presence of a chemical compound (such asexhaust, carbon monoxide, radon, smoke, a non-volatile organic compoundand/or a volatile organic compound), presence of an allergen (such asdander or pollen), presence of dust, presence of a fungus, a fire,presence of smoke, flooding, a water leak, a chemical leak, presence ofan insect or rodent (and, more generally, an infestation), discharge ofa firearm, a possible altercation or criminal act (such as domesticviolence), a medical emergency, a change in health condition of anindividual, availability of electrical power (such as whether there is apower failure), a lighting condition (such as whether the lights are onor off), temperature deviating from a predefined target, and/or humiditydeviating from a predefined target. In some embodiments, theenvironmental condition is associated with the operation of a regulatordevice (which may or may not be a legacy electronic device). Theregulator device (and, more generally, one of optional electronicdevices 114 in FIG. 1) may include: a smoke detector, a thermostat, acarbon-monoxide detector, an appliance, a pet or animal feeder, a plantor animal watering device, a clock, a security alarm, a humidifier, anair filter, a switch, a light, etc. Note that the monitoring of thesensor data may be continuous, periodic (such as after a time intervalhas elapsed) or as needed (such as event-driven monitoring).

The sensor data may be communicated to processing subsystem 210. Then,the environmental monitoring application may optionally analyze thesensor data, e.g., calculating a discrete or a Fourier transform,determining a histogram, performing filtering or signal processing,performing data compression, calibrating one or more of sensor devices228, managing power consumption of environmental monitoring device 200,identifying one or more of sensor devices 228 that are not working orwhich are outputting erroneous sensor data, applying anothertransformation, calculating statistics (such as moments of adistribution), performing supervised learning (such as Bayesiananalysis), performing noise reduction, normalizing the sensor data,converting units, etc. (Alternatively or additionally, the sensor dataor a document summarizing the sensor data may be communicated to anotherelectronic device using networking subsystem 214 and the analysis may beperformed remotely, e.g. by archive device 116 in FIGS. 1 and 4.) Forexample, the analysis may determine whether an environmental conditionis present in the environment. (In some embodiments, this analysis isbased on information, such as sensor data and/or environmentalconditions, received from other environmental monitoring devices. Thismay allow calibration settings, such as environment-specific thresholdvalues, to be determined for the environment and/or environmentalmonitoring device 200.) Then, the environmental monitoring applicationmay provide feedback to a user of environmental monitoring device 200,data-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1) and/or directly to one ofoptional electronic devices 114 in FIG. 1 (if this electronic device isable to communicate with environmental monitoring device 200 vianetworking subsystem 214). In particular, the environmental monitoringapplication may instruct feedback subsystem 232 to provide sensoryinformation, such as a text or graphical message, a graph, a report, achart, a spectrum, a video displayed on display 234, a sound or audiomessage (such as an alert) output by optional speakers 240 and/or anillumination pattern output by optional light sources 242. For example,the sensory information may include: a range of values, numericalmeasurements, shades of gray (or grayscale), colors, chemical formulas,images, illumination patterns, textures, patterns (which may correspondto one or more environmental conditions), tessellations with gradientsof larger or smaller element sizes, and/or tessellations of increasingor decreasing element sizes (such as tessellation that are adjusted tobe larger or smaller as a given environmental condition increases ordecreases). Thus, in some embodiments the sensory information includes achange in the color of environmental monitoring device 200.Alternatively or additionally, the feedback may include a change in theillumination pattern provided by optional light sources 242. In someembodiments, the feedback is communicated using networking subsystem 214and presented to the user (or other individuals) on another electronicdevice, such as data-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1) or adifferent electronic device (such as the user's cellular telephone,tablet computer or computer) that is used for remote visualization of:the sensor data, the analyzed sensor data, the environmental conditionand/or the feedback.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring application mayprovide, via networking subsystem 214, the feedback to one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) and/or other electronicdevices (such as computers or servers associated with or operated onbehalf of: component suppliers, retailers, insurance companies,maintenance organizations, shipping companies, landlords or propertyowners, a corporate-compliance organization, inspectors, businesses,government agencies, etc.). For example, the environmental monitoringapplication may utilize a Short Message Service, email, a social networkand/or a messaging service with a restricted number of characters permessage. Alternatively or additionally, the feedback may be posted to aweb page or website (and, more generally, a location on a network), andone or more recipients may be notified via networking subsystem 214,e.g., a link to the location may be provided to the recipients.

In turn, an electronic device (such as data-sharing electronic device118 in FIG. 1) may, via networking subsystem 214, modify settings ofenvironmental monitoring device 200 (such as alarm settings) that changehow the feedback is provided locally (e.g., using optional speakers 240)and/or remotely (e.g., using networking subsystem 214). For example, auser of data-sharing electronic device 118 in FIG. 1 may access a webpage associated with a provider of environmental monitoring device 200to modify the settings.

Note that the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be stored,at least temporarily, in a data structure in memory subsystem 212. Thisis shown in FIG. 3, which presents a data structure 300. In particular,data structure 300 may include entries 308 with: sensor data 310,timestamps 312, locations 314, optional analyzed sensor data 316, and/orenvironmental conditions 318. Note that locations 314 (or locationinformation) may specify locations were the sensor data was acquired ormeasured. For example, the location information may be measured using asensor device in environmental monitoring device 200 in FIG. 2 (such asa location monitor) and/or the location information may be received fromanother electronic device that is proximate to environmental monitoringdevice 200 in FIG. 2 (such as an individual's cellular telephone). Thus,the location may be determined via GPS and/or a cellular-telephonenetwork (such as triangulation or trilateration).

Referring back to FIG. 2, in some embodiments imaging data from one ormore imaging sensors (or imaging devices) in sensor devices 228 isanalyzed to determine the environmental condition. In order forenvironmental monitoring device 200 to have more accurate or focusedmonitoring of at least a portion of the environment (such as indifferent regions relative to a remainder of the environment),environmental monitoring device 200 may have a restricted field of view.This field of view may be associated with different spatial sensitivityof the one or more imaging sensors in the different regions of theenvironment. For example, the imaging sensor may include a lens with apredefined distortion that provides the different spatial sensitivity,such as Fresnel lens. In some embodiments, a mechanical stop providesthe different spatial sensitivity. Alternatively, processing subsystem210 (and, more generally, a control mechanism) provides a control signalthat selectively rotates an angular adjustment mechanism (such as amotor) in sensor subsystem 218 about an axis to change an orientation ofthe field of view. However, in some embodiments the angular adjustmentmechanism selectively rotates in response to an external force (ortorque), such as an external force applied by a user of environmentalmonitoring device 200. Note that the restricted field of view may allowprocessing subsystem 210 (and, more generally, a detection mechanism) touse the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data to detect: motion ofan object in the field of view, a light scattering pattern in the fieldof view and/or a light intensity in the field of view.

Moreover, acoustic data from one or more acoustic sensors (or acousticdevices) in sensor devices 228 may be analyzed to determine theenvironmental condition. For example, the acoustic data may correspondto sound in the environment (such as temporal audio samples of the soundprovided by a microphone). Based on the acoustic data, processingsubsystem 210 may determine if a smoke detector or carbon-monoxidedetector (and, more generally, an alarm device), either of which may beseparate from environmental monitoring device 200, is activated (e.g.,sounding an alert or an alarm) in the environment. Note that the soundmay include a temporal 3 (T-3) acoustic pattern (with a beep, pause andan alarm pattern or signal) that is compatible with an American NationalStandards Institute standard S3.42 1990. (Thus, the one or more acousticsensors may monitor one or more specific frequencies or acousticpatterns.) In some embodiments, processing subsystem 210 uses theacoustic data and predefined characterization of the environment todetermine if an alarm device (such as a smoke detector or acarbon-monoxide detector) is activated. For example, the predefinedcharacterization may include a location of the alarm device (such as alocation of the alarm device relative to environmental monitoring device200). This location may be specified by: an image of the environment, apositioning system (such as GPS), a communication network (such as acellular-telephone network), and/or an acoustic latency in the externalenvironment. Alternatively, the predefined characterization may includean acoustic transfer function of the environment proximate to the alarmdevice and environmental monitoring device 200.

If processing subsystem 210 determines that the smoke detector or thecarbon-monoxide detector is activated, processing subsystem 210 mayprovide a control signal to optional speakers 240 (and, more generally,an acoustic output mechanism, such as a piezoelectric buzzer) so that anaudible sound is output. This may assist the smoke detector or thecarbon-monoxide detector in alerting individuals in the environment tothe presence of the environmental condition. For example, one or moreadditional sensors in sensor devices 228 (and, more generally, a sensormechanism) may provide sensor data when a biological life form ispresent in the environment (such as an individual or an animal).Processing subsystem 210 may use this sensor data to determine of thebiological life form is present, and may output a control or outputsignal to networking subsystem 214 if the alert is detected and thebiological life form is present. In response, networking subsystem 214can communicate location information for environmental monitoring device200 to an electronic device. In this way, for example, environmentalmonitoring device 200 can alert firemen or first responders to thepresence of a child or a pet in a smoke-filled room or a room withcarbon monoxide, to assist them in promptly locating and rescuing thechild or the pet.

The predefined characterization can also include location informationwith respect to a biological organism (such as the child or the pet),and can be redefined at periodic or aperiodic intervals. For example,environmental monitoring device 200 may detect when a human is in abedroom and specify their location relative to the environmentalmonitoring device 200, such as that environmental monitoring device 200is approximately 3 meters from the human. This information may be usefulto first responders in fires, earthquakes, floods, other naturaldisasters or emergency situations.

In addition, one or more additional sensors in sensor devices 228 mayprovide sensor data associated with monitoring of a physical phenomenonor a chemical (and, more generally, an environmental condition) in theenvironment. Using the sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data,processing subsystem 210 may assess a degree of threat in theenvironment, and processing subsystem 210 may provide a differentcontrol signal to optional speakers 240 so that different audible soundsare produced as the degree of threat changes. In some embodiments, thechange to the audible sound provides quantitative feedback about thedegree of the threat in the environment (and, more generally, thefeedback may include quantitative information about the degree of thethreat).

In response to an environmental condition or a threat, environmentalmonitoring device 200 may output an alert, which may include audiblesound (or feedback) in the environment and/or information that iswirelessly communicated to one or more electronic devices (such asdata-sharing electronic device 118 in FIG. 1). There may be differenttypes of alerts (such as different warning sounds, lights, messages,etc.) for different environmental conditions. Additionally,environmental monitoring device 200 may output or provide more than onealert at the same time.

In some embodiments, processing subsystem 210 performs a remedial actionin response to an alert or an alarm (i.e., one or more environmentalconditions). This remedial action may include communicating with aregulator device to correct the environmental condition(s). For example,via networking subsystem 214, processing subsystem 210 may instruct theregulator device to: ventilate the area, activate a humidifier, power onor power off a regulator device, initiate the operation of a mode on aregulator device, etc. Alternatively, as described further below,processing subsystem 210 may provide a maintenance notification (such asa notification to change an air filter). Furthermore, the alert mayindicate a remedial action, such as positive or negative changes thatcan restore the environmental condition to a safe value. Thus, the alertmay indicate that a user should turn on the ventilation or wear a safetymask when painting or vacuuming, and/or may encourage the user to stopapplying a chemical product (such as paint) or to slow down the rate ofapplication.

The type of feedback or information output or provided by environmentalmonitoring device 200 may be specified by an alert setting stored inmemory subsystem 212. As noted previously, the alert setting may beremotely modified, e.g., via wireless communication from anotherelectronic device (such as a user's cellular telephone) using networkingsubsystem 214. In this way, an alert can be remotely disabled. However,in order to prevent accidental disabling of the alert, a separatecontrol command or code may also be required. Alternatively, one or moresensors devices 228 may monitor a user command (such as a sound, averbal instruction or command, a gesture, a sequence of bodily motions,a facial expression, etc.) in the environment, which may be required tomodify the alert setting. In some embodiments, alerts are disabled (atleast temporarily) if a user activates or changes a position of a buttonor switch on environmental monitoring device 200 (such as an optionalswitch 244 in feedback subsystem 232). When a state of optional switch244 and/or alerts is changed, environmental monitoring device 200 mayprovide sensory feedback to the user (such as by vibrating or othertactile feedback, making a sound, changing an illuminated color ofenvironmental monitoring device 200, etc.).

When the providing of the alert is disabled, processing subsystem 210may continue to assess the threat (such as the possible presence ofsmoke or carbon monoxide) based on subsequent sensor data and, if thethreat is increasing, (such as if the concentration of carbon monoxideis increasing or has become dangerous), may reactivate the providing ofthe alert. Alternatively, after a time interval (such as 5, 10, 15 or 30minutes), the modified alert setting may automatically revert to theoriginal alert setting, so that environmental monitoring device 200 canprovide alerts again. In some embodiments, a user subsequently changesthe modified alert setting back to the original alert setting or resetsthe alert setting to default. Thus, environmental monitoring device 200may continue to assess the impact of one or more environmental factors(and, more generally, the environmental condition) on the safety of theexternal environment, while also providing a user operational controlover alerts. In addition, environmental monitoring device 200 mayprovide fail safes both in how alerts are disabled and by reactivatingalerts in case the threat is increasing.

Furthermore, if the sensor data from the one or more sensor devices 228indicate the presence of an environmental condition, processingsubsystem 210 executing an environmental illumination application mayselect an illumination pattern from a set of illumination patterns,which are associated with illumination of the environment. In response,optional light sources 242 may output the selected illumination pattern.For example, optional light sources 242 may change the spatial pattern,wavelengths of light and/or light intensity in at least a portion of theenvironment. This may allow environmental monitoring device 200 todynamically change the illumination of the environment based on theenvironmental condition. Thus, if processing subsystem 210 determinesthat an individual (such as a child) is sleeping, the illuminationpattern may exclude or may reduce blue wavelengths of light (such aswavelengths between 460 and 480 nm), which can disrupt sleep. Moregenerally, environmental monitoring device 200 may provide lighting orillumination services based on actions of an individual and/a state ofthe individual. Note that the illumination pattern may be specifiedremotely (e.g., via networking interface 214) and/or via optionaluser-interface subsystem 216. For example, using user-interface device226, the user may provide a user selection that specifies a desiredillumination pattern.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 238 include adata-logging application. In conjunction with archive device 116 (FIGS.1 and 4), the data-logging application may maintain a secure, certifiedhistorical record or log for the environment and/or a physical object inthe environment (such as a ‘housefax’ record for an apartment or abuilding). Note that the physical object may include: a portion of abuilding (e.g., an apartment, a hotel room, an office suite, a storageunit, etc.), the building, a container (such as a box, a package or ashipping container), a vehicle (such as a car or truck), a liquid,and/or a train car. Notably, sensor subsystem 218 may securelycommunicate the sensor data to processing subsystem 210. Using optionalsecure channel 220, a digital signature for the sensor data may begenerated, e.g., using a secure hash function and/or an encryption keythat are associated with environmental monitoring device 200 and/oroptional secure channel 220. For example, the digital signature may begenerated using a secure hash of a time stamp, a random number (or apseudorandom number, both of which are henceforth referred to as a‘random number’), and/or an identifier of environmental monitoringdevice 200. Then, the data-logging application may instruct networkingsubsystem 214 to communicate a certified data package (with the sensordata or analyzed sensor data, the digital signature, locationinformation and/or an associated time stamp) to archive device 116(FIG. 1) for inclusion in the historical record or log for theenvironment.

Moreover, the one or more program modules 238 may include a data-sharingapplication. This data-sharing application may enable a designated orauthorized recipient to access protected sensor data that is stored inarchive device 116 (FIG. 1). In particular, when executed by processingsubsystem 210, the data-sharing application may instruct sensorsubsystem 218 to measure or collect sensor data that represents theenvironmental condition. Then, the data-sharing application may protectthe sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. For example, the sensordata and/or the analyzed sensor data may be encrypted using anencryption key by processing subsystem 210 and/or optional securechannel 220. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data may be protected using a secure hash function inconjunction with an identifier of environmental monitoring device 200and/or a random number generated by processing subsystem 210. Next,data-sharing application may instruct networking subsystem 214 toprovide the protected sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data toarchive device 116 (FIG. 1).

Subsequently, when environmental monitoring device 200 receives, vianetworking subsystem 214, a request for the sensor data fromdata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1), the data-sharingapplication may access a predefined authorization preference of a userof environmental monitoring device 200 that is stored in memorysubsystem 212. If the predefined authorization preference of the userauthorizes the recipient associated with the request, the data-sharingapplication may provide, via networking subsystem 214, authorizationinformation to archive device 116 (FIG. 1) to release the sensor data todata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, thedata-sharing application may instruct feedback subsystem 232 to requestfeedback about the request from the user. This user feedback may bereceived via optional user-interface subsystem 216. If the user feedbackapproves the request, the data-sharing application may provide, vianetworking subsystem 214, authorization information to archive device116 (FIG. 1) to release the sensor data to data-sharing electronicdevice 118 (FIG. 1). (Thus, the user of environmental monitoring device200 may control when other parties are allowed to access the sensordata.) Note that the data-sharing application may also provide, vianetworking subsystem 214, protection information specifying how tounprotect the sensor data to archive device 116 (FIG. 1) and/or todata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1). For example, thedata-sharing application may provide the encryption key and/or mayindicate the secure hash function, the random number and/or theidentifier. In some embodiments, this protection information is receivedfrom the user of environmental monitoring device 200, e.g., vianetworking interface 214 and/or optional user-interface subsystem 216.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 238 include amaintenance application. This maintenance application may provide amaintenance notification related to the operation of environmentalmonitoring device 200, one of the other electronic devices in FIG. 1and/or one or more environmental conditions in the environment. Forexample, the maintenance application may provide an instruction to:perform maintenance, replace a battery (and, more generally, one ofpower sources 248 and 250), replace one of the one or more sensordevices 228, order another replacement component (such as a filter)and/or to take out the garbage. When providing the maintenancenotification, the maintenance application may instruct feedbacksubsystem 232 to present the maintenance notification to the user ormaintenance personnel, and/or may instruct networking subsystem 214 tocommunicate the maintenance notification to another electronic device,such as the user's cellular telephone. In some embodiments, maintenanceapplication suggests or recommends a specific provider or product toaddress or perform a remedial action in response to a maintenancenotification. Alternatively, maintenance application may direct a userto a document (such as a web page or website) that includes informationrelated to a maintenance notification.

Environmental monitoring device 200 may be designed to facilitatemonitoring of one or more environmental conditions in the environment ina cost-effective manner. For example, heat generated during operation ofprocessing subsystem 210 may result in a convective fluid flow over oneor more of sensor devices 228 that facilitates measurements of sensordata associated with an environmental condition in the environment.Alternatively, thermal-management subsystem 252 may include an optionalfluid driver 254 (such as a fan or a pump) associated with the processorthat produces a fluid flow (such as an airflow or liquid flow) over theone or more sensor devices 228. Moreover, environmental monitoringdevice 200 may include baffles that direct the fluid flow or a portionof the fluid flow over a selected sensor device in the one or moresensor devices 228. In some embodiments, processing subsystem 210(and/or a steering mechanism in sensor subsystem 218) provides a controlsignal that dynamically adjusts a position or orientation of the bafflesso that the fluid flow is directed over a selected sensor device in theone or more sensor devices 228. However, in other embodiments theposition or orientation of the baffles is set manually by the user(e.g., by applying an external force or torque to the baffles) or thebaffles have fixed positions or orientations.

Moreover, environmental monitoring device 200 may include powersubsystem 246 with power sources 248 and 250. Each of these powersources may include: a battery (such as a rechargeable or anon-rechargeable battery), a DC power supply, a transformer, and/or aswitched-mode power supply. Moreover, either or both of power sources248 and 250 may operate in a voltage-limited mode or a current-limitedmode. Furthermore, these power sources may be mechanically andelectrically coupled by an adaptor to a wall or electrical-outlet socketplug (such as a two or three-pronged electrical-outlet plug, which maybe collapsible or retractable), a light socket (or light-bulb socket),electrical wiring, a generator, a USB port, a cellular-telephone chargercable, a photodiode, a photovoltaic cell, etc. This mechanical andelectrical coupling may be rigid or may be remateable.

In an exemplary embodiment, power subsystem 246 may allow processingsubsystem to analyze sensor data from the one or more sensor devices 228to assess if the environmental conditions indicate at least one of a setof threats and, if yes, to provide a corresponding alert. In particular,power subsystem 246 may include a primary power source (power source246) and a secondary power source (power source 250). The secondarypower source may have at least a 10-year life and may power at least asubset of the functionality of environmental monitoring device 200 inthe event the primary power source fails. For example, the one or moresensor devices 228 may include a smoke detector that is powered by thesecondary power source in the event the primary power source fails or ifan external power line is unavailable. Thus, power subsystem 246 mayfacilitate long-term monitoring of the environmental conditions andregulatory compliance.

In some embodiments, power subsystem 246 includes or functions as apass-through power supply for an electrical connector to an externalelectronic device (such as an appliance) that can be plugged into theelectrical connector. Power to this electrical connector (and, thus, theexternal electronic device) may be controlled locally by processingsubsystem 210 or optional user-interface subsystem 216 (such as viaoptional switch 244), and/or remotely via networking subsystem 214.Moreover, the power to the electrical connector may be turned on or offin response to sensor data provided by sensor subsystem 218 (such aswhen a signal is greater than or less than a user-specified or anenvironmental-regulation-specified threshold value, e.g., a dustconcentration of 20 mg/m³).

Environmental monitoring device 200 may be mounted on a base that isrigidly mounted on or underneath a wall in the environment. Thismechanical coupling may be rigid or remateable. For example, theremateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted intocorresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, theremateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to eachother so long as environmental monitoring device 200 and the base arewithin a predefined distance (such as 1-2 cm). Note that power subsystem246 may receive power via the rigid or remateable coupling to the base,or via inductive charging. In addition, one or more of sensor devices228 may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location ofenvironmental monitoring device 200, a velocity of environmentalmonitoring device 200 and/or an acceleration of environmental monitoringdevice 200. If this spatial parameter changes without processingsubsystem 210 first receiving a security code (e.g., via networkingsubsystem 214 and/or optional user-interface subsystem 216),environmental monitoring device 200 may provide an alert. For example,the alert may include an audible alarm output by optional speakers 240and/or a message to another electronic device via networking subsystem214. These features may facilitate convenient mounting and removal ofenvironmental monitoring device 200, while preventing theft.

Within environmental monitoring device 200, processing subsystem 210,memory subsystem 212, networking subsystem 214, optional user-interfacesubsystem 216, sensor subsystem 218, feedback subsystem 232, powersubsystem 246 and/or thermal-management subsystem 252 may be coupledusing one or more interconnects, such as bus 230. These interconnectsmay include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connectionthat the subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among oneanother. Note that different embodiments can include a different numberor configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-opticalconnections among the subsystems. In some embodiments, environmentalmonitoring device 200 can detect tampering with secure components (suchas optional secure channel 220 and/or bus 230) and may destroyencryption/decryption keys or information (such as a stored sensor dataor authentication information) if tampering is detected.

Environmental monitoring device 200 can be (or can be included in) anyelectronic device with at least one network interface. For example,environmental monitoring device 200 can be (or can be included in): asensor (such as a smart sensor), a tablet computer, a smartphone, acellular telephone, an appliance, a regulator device, aconsumer-electronic device (such as a baby monitor), a portablecomputing device, test equipment, a digital signal processor, acontroller, a personal digital assistant, a laser printer (or otheroffice equipment such as a photocopier), a personal organizer, a toy, aset-top box, a computing device (such as a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook), a light (such as anightlight), an alarm, a smoke detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, amonitoring device, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe environmentalmonitoring device 200, in alternative embodiments, different componentsand/or subsystems may be present in environmental monitoring device 200.For example, environmental monitoring device 200 may include one or moreadditional processing subsystems, memory subsystems, networkingsubsystems, user-interface subsystems, sensor subsystems, feedbacksubsystems, power subsystems and/or thermal-management subsystems.Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present inenvironmental monitoring device 200. Moreover, in some embodiments,environmental monitoring device 200 may include one or more additionalsubsystems that are not shown in FIG. 2. For example, environmentalmonitoring device 200 can include: one or more optional speakers 240(and, more generally, a physiological output subsystem that providessensory information to the user), one or more motors that rotate one ormore color wheels (or color-wheel indicators) with low power consumption(such as a brushed motor, a brushless motor, a piezo-type ratchetingmotor, etc.), and/or an alarm subsystem. Note that the one or moreoptional speakers 240 and a microphone may be used to provide audioconferencing capability to another electronic device. Furthermore, notethat a given motor may rotate a color wheel using an open-loop controltechnique or a closed-loop control technique based on an encoder, suchas: an optical encoder, a mechanical encoder, a potentiometer, etc.Although separate subsystems are shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments,some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into oneor more of the other subsystems or components in environmentalmonitoring device 200. For example, in some embodiments the one or moreprogram modules 238 are included in operating system 236. In someembodiments, a component in a given subsystem is included in a differentsubsystem, e.g., optional switch 244 may be included in optionaluser-interface subsystem 216.

Moreover, the circuits and components in environmental monitoring device200 may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or digitalcircuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors.Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include digital signalsthat have approximately discrete values and/or analog signals that havecontinuous values. Additionally, components and circuits may besingle-ended or differential, and power supplies may be unipolar orbipolar.

An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the functionality ofnetworking subsystem 214 (such as a radio) and, more generally, some orall of the functionality of environmental monitoring device 200.Moreover, the integrated circuit may include hardware and/or softwaremechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals fromenvironmental monitoring device 200 to, and receiving signals atenvironmental monitoring device 200 from other electronic devices. Asidefrom the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in theart and hence are not described in detail. In general, networkingsubsystem 214 and/or the integrated circuit can include any number ofradios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments function in asimilar way to the radios described in single-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem 214 and/or the integratedcircuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardwareand/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmitand/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrierfrequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configurationmechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/ortransmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/ortransmitting on a different communication channel (Note that‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from otherelectronic devices and possibly performing one or more processingoperations on the received signals, e.g., determining if the receivedsignal comprises an advertising frame, a petition, a beacon, etc.)

While a communication protocol compatible with ZigBee® was used as anillustrative example, the described embodiments of environmentalmonitoring device 200 may use a variety of network or communicationinterfaces. Furthermore, while some of the operations in the precedingembodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general theoperations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a widevariety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all ofthe operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed inhardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of theoperations performed by processing subsystem 210 may be performed bysensor subsystem 218.

Furthermore, while the preceding discussion focused on the hardware,software and functionality in environmental monitoring device 200,archive device 116 (FIG. 1) and/or optional computer 120 (FIG. 1) mayhave the same or similar hardware (processors, memory, networkinginterfaces, etc.) and/or software to support the operations performed bythese electronic devices or systems. This is shown in FIG. 4, whichpresents a block diagram illustrating electronic device 400, such asarchive device 116 (FIG. 1). In particular, electronic device 400includes processing subsystem 410, memory subsystem 412 and/or anetworking subsystem 414. Processing subsystem 410 includes one or moredevices configured to perform computational operations. For example,processing subsystem 410 can include one or more microprocessors,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), microcontrollers,programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors(DSPs).

Memory subsystem 412 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 410 and/or networkingsubsystem 414. For example, memory subsystem 412 can include dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/orother types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processingsubsystem 410 in memory subsystem 412 include: one or more programmodules 424 or sets of instructions (such as an archiving application,an analysis application, a data-sharing application and/or anotification application), which may be executed in an operatingenvironment (such as operating system 422) by processing subsystem 410.Note that the one or more computer programs may constitute acomputer-program mechanism or a program module. Moreover, instructionsin the various modules in memory subsystem 412 may be implemented in: ahigh-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language,and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programminglanguage may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable orconfigured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to beexecuted by processing subsystem 410.

In addition, memory subsystem 412 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 412 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin electronic device 400. In some of these embodiments, one or more ofthe caches is located in processing subsystem 410.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 412 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 412 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 412 can be used by electronic device 400as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storagedevice is used to store less frequently used data. Note that memorysubsystem 412 may include multiple storage devices at one or morelocations. Thus, data storage by memory subsystem 412 may bedistributed, such as a cloud-based data-storage system.

Networking subsystem 414 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or wireless network(i.e., to perform network operations), including an interface circuit416 and one or more optional antennas 418. For example, networkingsubsystem 414 can include: a ZigBee® networking subsystem, a Bluetooth™networking system (which can include Bluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE orBluetooth™ LE), a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G network suchas UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networking system, a networking system basedon the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a networking system),an Ethernet networking system and/or another communication system.

Moreover, networking subsystem 414 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking or communication system. Note that mechanisms used forcoupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on thenetwork for each network system are sometimes collectively referred toas a ‘network interface’ for the network system.

During operation of electronic device 400, processing subsystem 410 mayexecute one or more program modules 424, such as an archivingapplication. This archiving application may receive, via networkinginterface 414, data packets from one or more of environmental monitoringdevices 110 (FIG. 1). These data packets may include sensor data and/oranalyzed sensor data. In some embodiments, processing subsystem 410executes an analysis application, which analyzes the received sensordata. For example, the received sensor data may be: time stamped fortime-series processing, filtered, compressed, etc. In some additionalembodiments, processing subsystem 410 executes an analysis application,which can compare received sensor data analysis from one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1).

Then, archiving application may store the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data in a data structure in memory subsystem 412. Thisis shown in FIG. 5, which presents a block diagram illustrating datastructure 500. In particular, data structure 500 may include entries 508with: identifiers 510 of environmental monitoring devices, sensor data512, timestamps 514, locations 516, optional analyzed sensor data 518,environmental conditions 520 and/or optional protection information 522.

Referring back to FIG. 4, in some embodiments the received data packetsinclude protected information. For example, the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data may be encrypted using an encryption key associatedwith one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) and/or asecure channel in the one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG.1). Alternatively or additionally, there may be a digital signatureassociated with the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, and/orthe sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be protected using asecure hash function. In these embodiments, optional protectioninformation 522 (FIG. 5) may include information that can confirm thesource(s) of the received data packets (such as one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1) and/or can be used tounprotect the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. Note thatoptional protection information 522 (FIG. 5) may be received, vianetworking interface 414, from one of environmental monitoring devices110 (FIG. 1). This protection information may include the encryption keyor an encryption key associated with the encryption key (which can beused to confirm the digital signature and/or decrypt encryptedinformation). Networking device 414 can utilize: encrypted tunneling inat least one networking interface, a network switch and/or networkrouter between one of environmental monitoring devices 110 and archivedevice 116 in FIG. 1. Similarly, optional protection information 522(FIG. 5) may specify the secure hash function, may include theidentifier for one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1)and/or may include the random number (which also can be used tounprotect information). Note that protection information 522 may includefault tolerance information (such as parity bits or hashes) to aid inthe detection of tampered data, corrupted data, and/or erroneous sensorreadings in the event of a sensor failure or miscalibration.

In an exemplary embodiment, a public-private encryption-key technique isused. In particular, a certified, secure data package may be signed byone of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) using a publicencryption key of archive device 116 (FIG. 1), and the digital signaturemay be verified and the certified, secure data package may be decryptedusing the private encryption key of archive device 116 (FIG. 1).However, in other embodiments a symmetric encryption technique is used.Thus, the same encryption key may be used to sign, encrypt and/ordecrypt the certified, secure data package.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 424 includes adata-sharing application. This data-sharing application may receive, vianetworking subsystem 414, authorization information for a recipient ofsensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. In response to theauthorization information, the data-sharing application may provide, vianetworking subsystem 414, the requested sensor data and/or analyzedsensor data to the recipient. Alternatively, the data-sharingapplication may provide, via networking subsystem 414, a pointer to alocation in memory subsystem 412 where the recipient can access therequested sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. Note that thedata-sharing application may also optionally provide the optionalprotection information 522 (FIG. 5) to the recipient (which may allowthe recipient to confirm the source(s) and/or to unprotect protectedinformation).

Additionally, in some embodiments the one or more program modules 424includes a notification application. This notification application mayreceive, via networking subsystem 414, information, such as feedbackassociated with one or more environmental conditions in environment 112(FIG. 1) and/or a notification (such as a maintenance notification). Inresponse, the notification application may communicate, via networkingsubsystem 414, the information and/or one or more reports based on theinformation (such as daily, weekly or monthly summaries of analyzedsensor data, which may be included in documents or files) to: one ormore of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1), data-sharingelectronic device 118 (FIG. 1) and/or other electronic devices (such ascomputers or servers associated with or operated on behalf of: componentsuppliers, retailers, insurance companies, maintenance organizations,shipping companies, landlords or property owners, a corporate-complianceorganization, inspectors, businesses, government agencies, etc.). Forexample, the communication of the information may utilize a ShortMessage Service, email, a social network and/or a message service with arestricted number of characters per message. Alternatively, theinformation may be posted to a web page or website (and, more generally,a location on a network), and one or more recipients may be notified vianetworking subsystem 414, e.g., a link to the location may be providedto the recipients.

When the notification includes a maintenance notification, the archivingapplication may store information specifying the maintenancenotification in a historical record or log for the environment. Inaddition, the archiving application may store any subsequent remedialaction (such as a repair or service performed on an electronic device inthe environment) in a historical record or log for the environment inmemory subsystem 412.

Within electronic device 400, processing subsystem 410, memory subsystem412, and/or networking subsystem 414 may be coupled using one or moreinterconnects, such as bus 420. These interconnects may include anelectrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that thesubsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another.Note that different embodiments can include a different number orconfiguration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connectionsamong the subsystems.

Electronic device 400 can be (or can be included in) any electronicdevice with at least one network interface. For example, electronicdevice 400 can be (or can be included in): a sensor (such as a smartsensor), a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, anappliance, a regulator device, a consumer-electronic device, a portablecomputing device, test equipment, a digital signal processor, acontroller, a personal digital assistant, a facsimile machine, a laserprinter (or other office equipment such as a photocopier), a personalorganizer, a toy, a set-top box, a computing device (such as a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook),an alarm, a light (such as a nightlight), a monitoring device, and/oranother electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device 400,in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems maybe present in electronic device 400. For example, electronic device 400may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memorysubsystems, and/or networking subsystems. Additionally, one or more ofthe subsystems may not be present in electronic device 400. Moreover, insome embodiments, electronic device 400 may include one or moreadditional subsystems that are not shown in FIG. 4, such as a powersupply and/or a user-interface subsystem (which a user may use to modifysettings of one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG.1, such as settings for alarms or notifications). Although separatesubsystems are shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, some or all of agiven subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of theother subsystems or components in electronic device 400. For example, insome embodiments the one or more program modules 424 are included inoperating system 422.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device 400 may beimplemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry,including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore,signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that haveapproximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuousvalues. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended ordifferential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

Note that an integrated circuit may implement some or all of thefunctionality of electronic device 400.

While some of the operations in the preceding embodiments wereimplemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in thepreceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety ofconfigurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of theoperations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, insoftware or both.

An exemplary embodiment of the environmental monitoring device is shownin FIGS. 6-8, which respectively show front, and side views ofenvironmental monitoring device 600, which may be one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the environmentalmonitoring device may include a display. This shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,which respectively show front and side views of environmental monitoringdevice 900, which may be one of environmental monitoring devices 110(FIG. 1).

Embodiments of the environmental monitoring device may include a gratingin the chassis or housing (such as a case or a shell on the outside ofthe environmental monitoring device) that prevents large particles, soiland mud from damaging or otherwise obscuring inputs to one or moresensor devices in the environmental monitoring device. Alternatively oradditionally, as described further below with reference to FIGS. 20 and21, the chassis or housing may facilitate airflow or fluid flow throughvents or openings to one or more sensor devices in the environmentalmonitoring device. In addition, as noted previously, the environmentalmonitoring device may include a forced-fluid driver (such as a fan) tofacilitate airflow or fluid-flow through the vents. However, in otherembodiments airflow or fluid flow is facilitated using convection (e.g.,by heating the air or the fluid), or the airflow or fluid flow may occurpassively.

We now further describe operation of the environmental monitoring deviceand, in particular, functionality of the environmental monitoring devicein various embodiments. FIG. 11 presents a flow diagram illustrating amethod 1100 for determining a metric, which may be performed by animaging device in the environmental monitoring device. During operation,the imaging device may measure imaging data (operation 1114) for anexternal environment that includes the environmental monitoring device,where the imaging device has different spatial (or directional)sensitivity in different regions of the external environment, and thedifferent spatial sensitivity in the different regions defines a fieldof view of the imaging device. For example, the imaging device mayinclude a lens that provides the different spatial sensitivity. Thislens may include a predefined distortion that provides the differentspatial sensitivity (such as different magnifications for the differentregions). In particular, the lens may include: a Fresnel lens, acylindrical lens, lenticular lens, gradient index lens, etc. In someembodiments, the lens has: a circular shape, a cross shape, or arectangular shape. Moreover, the lens may be symmetrical ornon-symmetrical, and it may be adjusted, distorted, cut, processed,arranged, customized or otherwise adapted to provide the differentspatial sensitivity and/or to accommodate abnormalities or limitationsof a sensor device in the environmental monitoring device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lens includes a set of concentriccircles or ellipses with a common center. Alternatively or additionally,the lens has a cross shape. In some embodiments, the lens has adistorted cross shape, in which one arm is longer than the other (e.g.,the cross may appear as if it were on a curved surface when it is on aflat surface). This distorted shape may optimize sensor data receivedfrom the sensor device. Note that a cover for the lens may have an outershape that matches the contours of the outer front face of a chassis orhousing of the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, the lens maybe formed on the interior surface of a lens piece so that the lens isnot clearly visible from the exterior of the environmental monitoringdevice.

Then, the imaging device may determine the metric (operation 1116) basedon the imaging data. For example, determining the metric may involvecomputing: a difference vector between two images in the field of viewthat were acquired at different times, a difference in the lightintensity between two images in the field of view that were acquired atdifferent times, a histogram of the light intensity in pixels in thefield of view, a Fourier transform of an image in the field of view,etc.

Next, a processor in the environmental monitoring device may detect aphysical parameter (operation 1118) based on the metric. This physicalparameter may include: motion of an object in the field of view; a lightscattering pattern in the field of view; and/or a light intensity in thefield of view. For example, the metric may be compared to a thresholdvalue, and the physical parameter may be detected based on thecomparison. Thus, if the metric includes a normalized difference vectoror a normalized difference in the light intensity with a magnitude thatexceeds a threshold value of 0.25 or 0.5, the motion of the object maybe detected. In general, the environmental monitoring device may detectthe physical parameter based on: an image, video, and motion sensorsthat detect changing patterns in the scattering of light.

In some embodiments, the processor in the environmental monitoringdevice optionally receives a user-specified orientation (operation1110). Then, the processor may optionally provide a control signal to anangular adjustment mechanism (operation 1112) in response to theuser-specified orientation. This control signal may change theorientation of the field of view by selectively rotating the angularadjustment mechanism about an axis. For example, the angular adjustmentmechanism may include a motor, such as a stepper motor. Alternatively,the angular adjustment mechanism may include a MEMS mirror that can beadjusted to scatter or reflect light (such as laser light) over a widerange of angles. Note that the processor may execute a program modulethat includes instructions for operations 1110 and 1112.

While the preceding example illustrated automated control of the angularadjustment mechanism, in other embodiments the orientation may bechanged manually. For example, the angular adjustment mechanism may havea stationary position and an adjustment position along the axis. In thestationary position, the angular adjustment mechanism may have a fixedorientation. However, in the adjustment position, the angular adjustmentmechanism may selectively rotate about the axis (such as in 5°increments). Furthermore, instead of responding to the control signal,the angular adjustment mechanism may displace from the stationaryposition to the adjustment position in response to an external force ortorque applied to the angular adjustment mechanism. In particular, auser of the environmental monitoring device may apply the external forceor torque (e.g., by pushing in on a front face of the environmentalmonitoring device and rotating to the desired orientation). In someembodiments, a user changes the spatial sensitivity by changing theimaging device (such as by attaching a different lens to theenvironmental monitoring device).

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may facilitate moreaccurate or focused monitoring of at least some of the different regions(or a portion of the external environment) relative to a remainder ofthe regions (or a remainder of the external environment). For example,the environmental monitoring device may be more focused on a regiondirectly in front of the environmental monitoring device, while at othertimes a wider field of view may be used. Alternatively, theenvironmental monitoring device may be more sensitive to an up and adown direction.

FIG. 12 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 1210 during method 1100 (FIG. 11).During operation of environmental monitoring device 1210 (such as duringa motion-sensing mode of operation), imaging device 1212 may measureimaging data 1220 for the external environment with the differentspatial sensitivity in the different regions that defines the field ofview. Then, imaging device 1212 may determine metric 1222 based onimaging data 1220.

Next, imaging device 1212 may provide imaging data 1220 and/or metric1222 to processor 1214. Moreover, processor 1214 may detect a physicalparameter 1224 based on metric 1222.

In some embodiments, processor 1214 optionally receives a user-specifiedorientation 1226 from a user 1230 via user-interface device 1216. Then,processor 1214 may optionally provide a control signal 1228 to angularadjustment mechanism 1218 in response to user-specified orientation 1226to change the orientation of the field of view by selectively rotatingthe angular adjustment mechanism about the axis.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device supplements orassists the functioning of an alarm device in an external environment.This is shown in FIG. 13, which presents a flow diagram illustrating amethod 1300 for determining if an alarm device is activated. Method 1300may be performed by a processor in the environmental monitoring device.For example, the processor may execute a program module that includesinstructions for operations in method 1300. During operation, theprocessor may receive (or access) acoustic data (or analyzed acousticdata) associated with an acoustic sensor (operation 1310) in theenvironmental monitoring device, where the acoustic data is based onmeasurements of a sound in an external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device. For example, the acoustic data mayinclude a sound intensity in a frequency band or within the bandwidth ofa filter (such as audible frequencies, or frequencies less than 2, 5, 10or 20 kHz). Alternatively, the acoustic data may include an acousticspectrum and/or time intervals between tones in the sound. In general,the acoustic data may include or be associated with: an alarm, adetector, a human voice, music, a vibration, an automobile noise (suchas a car pulling into a garage), water dripping, wind blowing through anopen window (or a broken window), a door, a tea kettle whistling, and/orwall.

Then, the processor may determine if the alarm device, which is separatefrom the environmental monitoring device (and may not communicate withand/or may not have electrical coupling to the environmental monitoringdevice), is activated (operation 1312) based on the acoustic data. Forexample, the alarm device may include a smoke detector, and theprocessor may determine if the smoke detector is activated based on atemporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an American NationalStandards Institute standard S3.42 1990.

Moreover, the processor may provide an output signal (operation 1314)that indicates the alarm device is activated, and one or more speakers(or audio transducers) in the environmental monitoring device may outputaudible sound (operation 1316) in the external environment based on theoutput signal. For example, the audible sound may include an alarm atone or more frequencies within the human-hearing range or a verbalwarning message (such as ‘warning: smoke detected’).

Next, a sensor device in the environmental monitoring device mayoptionally provide sensor data (operation 1318) based on measurements ofan environmental condition in the external environment. For example, thesensor data may indicate the concentration of a chemical compound, thetemperature or the amount of particulate matter in the environment. Inresponse to the sensor data, the processor may optionally assess adegree of threat in the external environment and may optionally modifythe output signal when the threat changes (operation 1320). Furthermore,the one or more speakers may change the audible sound based on themodified output signal. This change to the audible sound may providequantitative feedback about the degree of the threat (as opposed to abinary response, such as providing or not providing an alert). Inparticular, the change in the audible sound may include: an increase inthe sound intensity, a change in the sound frequency (such as anincreasing frequency), a change in the time interval between tones (suchas a decreasing time interval), a change in a verbal warning (such astransitioning from ‘warning: unhealthy air quality has been detected’ to‘emergency: the air quality in this room is life-threatening, evacuateimmediately’), etc.

While the preceding discussion used audio feedback about theenvironmental condition in the environment, more generally theenvironmental monitoring device may also provide other types feedbackabout one or more environmental conditions in the environment. As shownin FIG. 9, in some embodiments the environmental monitoring devicedisplays a graph (such as: a pie chart, a bar chart, a scatter plot, atime-series plot, a tabular summary, a spectrum, a spectrogram and/oranother type of graphical analysis) to provide the user with informationabout the one or more environmental conditions. Alternatively oradditionally, the graph may include images of chemicals, along withcolor scales or numbers. The image of a given chemical can grow orshrink in size in proportion to the chemical levels or concentrationsdetected. These images may offer information about relative health orsafety of the environment, and/or may be of general interest.

In some embodiments, the feedback is provided via a color-wheelindicator that is rotated by a motor based on a signal that indicatesthe strength of an environmental condition or using a color-wheelgraphic. For example, an indicator or a marker aligned with thecolor-wheel indicator may indicate which area in the color wheelcorresponds to the current environmental condition. Alternatively, asshown in FIG. 6, a color-wheel indicator may include a rotatable orselectively illuminated dial or ring (which is sometimes referred to asa ‘color ring’) with a band of color or shades of grayscale on theoutside of the color wheel so that a user can identify the approximatelevel of environmental condition based on the color(s) or grayscalevalues displayed on the ring. In another display option, the color-wheelindicator may include a color or texture-based gauge. Furthermore, theenvironmental monitoring device may include multiple color-wheelindicators in the feedback subsystem that can be used together todisplay additional information, or to provide additional resolutionand/or precision to the feedback. In an exemplary embodiment, atransparent color wheel with additional colors may be rotated (possiblyat a different angular velocity from other color wheels) to modify thecolors presented. Similarly, shades of gray or transparent gradients ofincreasing opacity of red, green, and/or blue (or cyan, magenta, and/oryellow) may be used around the ring of a given color wheel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the feedback includes different types ofaudio feedback or alarms. For example, the environmental monitoringdevice may emit sound in a range from 1 to 1000 decibels, and may emitaudio at different volumes at different times. For example, theenvironmental monitoring device may include a piezoelectric buzzerand/or a speaker. The piezoelectric buzzer may beep three times at avolume level of 60-120 decibels within a range of 5-200 feet (such as at85 decibels within a range of 10 feet). Then, the speaker may emit aprerecorded message instructing residents to leave a home or office at avolume level of 60-120 decibels. Moreover, the environmental monitoringdevice may repeat this pattern if the sensor device detects a smokeconcentration or a carbon-monoxide concentration above a predeterminedthreshold value and may sound continuously at a volume level of 60-120decibels with a range of 5-200 feet (such as 85 decibels within a rangeof 10 feet). Alternatively or additionally, the environmental monitoringdevice may provide an alarm using a mechanical beeper that sounds at60-230 decibels within a range of 5-200 feet (such as 105 decibelswithin a range of 10 feet) if the sensor device detects combustible gasconcentration above a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, if theenvironmental monitoring device detects food being burned in thekitchen, the environmental monitoring device may notify a human using atone emitted from a microphone before a piezoelectric buzzer sounds orprovides the temporal 3 acoustic pattern.

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may support thefunction of the alarm device, both is sounding the alarm and inproviding more detailed and actionable information for individual's inthe environment. For example, the sensor device may include a smokedetector and the alarm device may include a carbon-monoxide detector.Alternatively, the sensor device may include a carbon-monoxide detectorand the alarm device may include a smoke detector.

Additionally, the sensor device may optionally provide sensor data whena biological life form is present (operation 1322) in the externalenvironment, and an interface circuit in a networking subsystem in theenvironmental monitoring device may optionally communicate that thebiological life form is present (operation 1324) to an electronic devicein response to another output signal from the processor, where theprocessor may determine if the biological life form is present in theexternal environment based on the sensor data, and may provide theoutput signal if the alarm device is activated and the biological lifeform is present. For example, the sensor data may include motioninformation (such as an echo in response to a radar pulse), an infraredsignature of the biological life form, Doppler information associatedwith the biological life form (such as a Doppler shift associated withbreathing) and/or an audible distress tone or distress call broadcast bya first responder (such as a fireman). Note that the interface circuitmay communicate a location of the environmental monitoring device to theelectronic device in response to the output signal.

This capability may allow the environmental monitoring device to alertfiremen and/or other first responders to the location of the biologicallife form and/or to the physiological condition of the biological lifeform in the event of an emergency in the environment (such as a fire,the presence of a noxious chemical or the presence of carbon monoxide).For example, the environmental monitoring device may be able to detect achild or a pet in a burning home, and may be able to direct rescuers totheir location to facilitate a faster, less risky and/or more efficientrescue. Alternatively or additionally, if a fireman is injured or indistress and issues a Mayday call, the environmental monitoring devicemay detect this information and may relay it to other fireman to assistin getting prompt aid for the fireman.

FIG. 14 presents a drawing illustrating communication betweenenvironmental monitoring device 1410 and alarm device 1412 during method1300 (FIG. 13). During operation of environmental monitoring device1410, processor 1414 may receive acoustic data 1424 from acoustic sensor1416 based on the sound 1408 in the external environment from alarmdevice 1412. Then, processor 1414 may determine if alarm device 1412 isactivated 1426.

Moreover, processor 1414 may provide an output signal 1428 thatindicates alarm device 1412 is activated, and one or more speakers 1418may output audible sound 1430 in the external environment based onoutput signal 1428. Next, a sensor device 1420 may optionally providesensor data 1432 to processor 1414 based on measurements of theenvironmental condition in the external environment. In response tosensor data 1432, processor 1414 may optionally assess a degree ofthreat 1434 in the external environment and may optionally providemodified output signal 1436 when the threat changes. Furthermore, theone or more speakers 1418 may provide changed audible sound 1438 basedon modified output signal 1436.

Additionally, sensor device 1420 may optionally provide sensor data 1440when a biological life form is present in the external environment. Aninterface circuit in a networking subsystem 1422 may optionallycommunicate that the biological life form is present 1444 to anelectronic device 1446 in response to output signal 1442 from processor1414.

In some embodiments, operation of the environmental monitoring devicemay be remotely configured. This is shown in FIG. 15, which presents aflow diagram illustrating a method 1500 for providing an alert based onan alert setting, which may be performed by a processor in theenvironmental monitoring device. For example, the processor may executea program module that includes instructions for operations in method1500. During operation, the processor may receive (or access) sensordata (or analyzed sensor data) associated with a sensor device(operation 1510) based on measurements of an environmental condition inan external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice.

Then, the processor, assesses (operation 1512) if the environmentalcondition indicates a threat. If no, method 1500 ends. Otherwise, theprocessor provides the alert (operation 1514) to an electronic device,which is separate from the environmental monitoring device (and may notcommunicate with and/or may not have electrical coupling to theenvironmental monitoring device), based on the alert setting (which mayspecify when or the requirements for an alert to be communicated and howthe alert is communicated, such as: an audible alarm having a tone and avolume setting, a Short Message Service, email, a social network, amessaging service with a restricted number of characters per message, atelephone call, etc.). For example, the processor may provide an outputor a control signal to a networking interface that, in response,wirelessly communicates the alert to the electronic device (such as acellular telephone of a user or owner of the environmental monitoringdevice.) This capability may enable remote monitoring of theenvironment, such as while the user runs errands or is travelling. Notethat the alert may include information quantifying a degree of thethreat, such as a concentration of a chemical or a level of risk toindividuals in the external environment. In some embodiments, theprocessor also provides the alert in the external environment. Inparticular, the processor may provide an output or a control signal toone or more speakers, which output an audible sound in the externalenvironment.

Separately or additionally, the environmental monitoring device mayreceive, from the electronic device, the modified alert setting andoptionally a (separate) control command (operation 1516). For example,the modified alert setting and the option control command may bewirelessly received from the user. In response, the processor disablesthe providing of the alert (operation 1518) based on the modified alertsetting and the optional control command. Note that the control command,such as a code, a safe word or a password, may help prevent accidentalor unintended disabling of the alerts.

Furthermore, the processor may optionally perform one or more additionalactions (operation 1520). For example, the processor may assess thethreat after receiving the modified alert setting and may reactivate theproviding of the alert if the threat continues to increase.Alternatively or additionally, the processor may revert from themodified alert setting to the alert setting after a time interval (suchas 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes).

While the previous embodiments illustrated remote disabling of alerts(and, more generally, remote configuration of the alert setting and/oroperation of the environmental monitoring device, including an operatingmode of the environmental monitoring device), in other embodiments theuser may disable the alert based on an action performed in theenvironment. For example, the sensor device in the environmentalmonitoring device may provide additional sensor data based on monitoringof a user command and an optional (separate) control command in theexternal environment (such as a sound, a verbal instruction or command,a gesture, a sequence of bodily motions, a facial expression, etc.).Note that the control command may include a safe word, a password or asecurity code that is spoken by the user or that is provided by the uservia a user interface. In response to receiving the additional sensordata and the optional control command, the processor may disable theproviding of the alert. Alternatively or additionally, the processor maydisable the providing of the alert when the user activates or changesthe position of a switch in a feedback subsystem in the environmentalmonitoring device. Note that the switch may be a physical switch, knobor dial, or a virtual switch (or a user-interface object or icon) thatis presented on a display in the environmental monitoring device.

Furthermore, while the previous embodiments illustrated remotemodification of the alert setting, in some embodiments the user modifiesthe alert setting by interacting with a user interface (such as auser-interface object or icon and, more generally, a selectionmechanism) in the feedback subsystem that allows the user to select thetype of alert or feedback (including disabling alerts). For example, aselection box or a slider bar may allow the user to select options orsettings such as: basic, intermediate or advanced feedback (depending onthe technical level of the user or the application of the environmentalmonitoring device). The user may also use a user interface in theenvironmental monitoring device and/or the display to select feedbackand notification options or settings, such as: the danger alarms andalerts, threshold values for detecting environmental conditions (such anenvironment-specific threshold values, which may be calibrated based ona history of an environment), optimal settings for a particularenvironmental monitoring device or environment (such as calibrationsettings, power-consumption settings, etc.) or a generic environmentalmonitoring device or environment, etc. Alternatively, the thresholds maybe determined based on sensor data and/or environmental conditionsassociated with multiple environmental monitoring devices, e.g., using asupervised learning technique (such as support vector machines,classification and regression trees, a neural network, regressionanalysis, Bayesian analysis, etc.). Note that the environmentalmonitoring device may also display and/or provide to the electronicdevice operating information, such as: sensor life, uptime, battery liferemaining, network connectivity, danger alarms enabled or disabled,and/or status messages.

FIG. 16 presents a drawing illustrating communication between anenvironmental monitoring device 1610 and an electronic device 1612during method 1500 (FIG. 15). During operation of environmentalmonitoring device 1610, processor 1614 may receive sensor data 1622associated with a sensor device 1616 based on measurements of anenvironmental condition in an external environment. Then, if processor1614 assesses the environmental condition indicates a threat 1624,processor 1614 may provide alert 1626 to electronic device 1612 based onthe alert setting. In some embodiments, processor 1614 provides anoutput signal 1628 to one or more speakers 1618, which output an audiblesound 1630 in the external environment.

Separately or additionally, networking subsystem 1620 may optionallyreceive, from electronic device 1612, modified alert setting 1632 andoptionally control command 1634 in one or more packets or messages. Inresponse, processor 1614 optionally disables alerts 1636.

Furthermore, processor 1614 may assess threat 1624 based on additionalsensor data 1638 after receiving optional modified alert setting 1632,and may optionally reactivate the alerts 1640 if threat 1624 continuesto increase. Alternatively or additionally, processor 1614 may revertfrom modified alert setting 1632 to the alert setting after a timeinterval. In response to either, the one or more speakers 1618 mayoptionally provide sound 1642.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device determines ifthe alarm device is activated based, at least in part, on predefined (orpredetermined) characterization of the external environment. This isshown in FIG. 17, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method1700 for providing an alert, which may be performed by a processor inthe environmental monitoring device. For example, the processor mayexecute a program module that includes instructions for operations inmethod 1700. During operation, the processor may receive (or access)acoustic data (or analyzed acoustic data) associated with an acousticsensor (operation 1710) based on measurements of sound in an externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device.

Then, the processor may determine if the alarm device, which is separatefrom the environmental monitoring device (and may not communicate withand/or may not have electrical coupling to the environmental monitoringdevice), is activated (operation 1712) based on the acoustic data andthe predefined characterization of the external environment. Forexample, the predefined characterization may include a location of thealarm device in the external environment. This location may be specifiedby: an image of the external environment, a positioning system (such asGPS), a communication network (such as a cellular-telephone network),and/or an acoustic latency in the external environment (which can beused to determine distance). Moreover, the location of the alarm devicemay be relative to a location of the environmental monitoring device inthe external environment. Furthermore, the predefined characterizationmay include an acoustic transfer function of the external environmentproximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device.This acoustic transfer function may be determined by the user using anapplication executing on the user's cellular telephone, which may outputacoustic energy (such as a beacon or other signals) and measure echoesor an acoustic return as the user moves the cellular telephone throughthe external environment (and, thus, generates an acoustic map of theexternal environment). In conjunction with known locations of thecellular telephone, this information may allow the application todetermine acoustic transfer function, which is then communicated to theenvironmental monitoring device. Moreover, using the acoustic transferfunction, the processor may correct the acoustic data for distortion(such as amplitude loss and/or phase shifts) associated with theexternal environment, thereby allowing the processor to determine if thealarm device is activated (and, if there is more than one alarm devicein the external environment, to determine which alarm device isactivated).

Next, the processor may provide the alert (operation 1714) if the alarmdevice is activated. For example, the processor may provide an output ora control signal to one or more speakers that, in response, output anaudible sound in the external environment. Alternatively oradditionally, the processor may provide an output or a control signal toa networking subsystem, which wirelessly communicates the alert toanother electronic device (such as the user's cellular telephone).

FIG. 18 presents a drawing illustrating communication between anenvironmental monitoring device 1810 and an alarm device 1812 duringmethod 1700 (FIG. 17). During operation of environmental monitoringdevice 1810, processor 1814 may receive acoustic data 1822 associatedwith an acoustic sensor 1816 based on measurements of sound 1808 in anexternal environment from alarm device 1812.

Then, processor 1810 may determine if alarm device 1812 is activated1824 based on acoustic data 1822 and the predefined characterization ofthe external environment.

Next, processor 1810 may provide the alert if alarm device 1812 isactivated 1824. For example, processor 1810 may provide an output signal1826 to one or more speakers 1818 that, in response, output an audiblesound 1828 in the external environment. Alternatively or additionally,processor 1810 may provide an output signal 1830 to a networkingsubsystem 1820, which wirelessly communicates alert 1832 to anotherelectronic device 1834.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device uses monitoringof one or more environmental conditions in an external environment todynamically adapt an illumination pattern or lighting. This is shown inFIG. 19, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 1900 forilluminating at least a portion of an external environment, which may beperformed by a processor in the environmental monitoring device. Forexample, the processor may execute a program module that includesinstructions for operations in method 1900. During operation, theprocessor may receive (or access) sensor data (or analyzed sensor data)associated with a sensor device (operation 1910) based on measurementsof an environmental condition in the external environment that includesthe environmental monitoring device.

Then, the processor may select an illumination pattern (operation 1912)from a set of illumination patterns based on the sensor data, where theset of illumination patterns are associated with non-zero illuminationof the external environment. Thus, in response to the sensor data, theprocessor may transition from one illumination pattern to another.

Alternatively or additionally, a user-input mechanism (such as a userinterface) in the environmental monitoring device may optionally receivea user selection (operation 1914) that specifies a desired illuminationpattern. In response to the received user selection, the processor maychange the selected illumination pattern.

Furthermore, one or more light sources in the environmental monitoringdevice may illuminate at least a portion of the external environment(operation 1916) based on the selected illumination pattern.

For example, at least two of the illumination patterns in the set ofillumination patterns may have: different spatial patterns in theexternal environment, different temporal patterns (or variations as afunction of time, such as continuous, intermittent and/or modulatedtemporal patterns), different wavelengths of light, and/or differentlight intensities. Moreover, the environmental condition may include:opening of a door, an individual getting out of bed, an individualwaking up, an individual (such as a baby) crying, an individual tossingand turning in bed (such as when the individual is having a nightmare),an individual shivering (which may be identified by an increasingamplitude of motion or vibration of the individual); and/or a change inhealth condition of an individual (such as a child coughing or havingbreathing trouble). Furthermore, at least one illumination pattern inthe set of illumination patterns illuminates under a piece of furniture(such as a bed) in the external environment.

Thus, if a parent opens a door to a child's bedroom (which mayconstitute an environmental condition), the illumination pattern orlighting in the bedroom may change (e.g., the illumination pattern maytransition from a ‘nightlight’ illuminating downward towards the floorto a narrow, low-intensity beam of light that shines on the child'sbed). Similarly, if the child gets out of bed or wakes up (which alsomay constitute environmental conditions), the illumination pattern maychange from the nightlight to a general illumination of the bedroom witha temporally slow increasing light intensity or to illuminating belowthe child's bed (so they can ‘monster proof’ the room). Alternatively,if the child is trying to fall to sleep (yet another environmentalcondition), the selected illumination pattern may attempt to assist orfacilitate sleep. In particular, human dark or night vision is sensitiveto visible wavelengths in the blue-portion of the spectrum.Consequently, the selected illumination pattern may include wavelengthsof light in a predefined range, such as: wavelengths greater thanapproximately 530 nanometers or a predefined range that excludeswavelengths between approximately 460-480 nanometers. This predefinedrange may be implemented using one or more optical filters in orassociated with the one or more light sources. More generally, theillumination pattern may be associated with: a light intensity orbrightness, one or more wavelengths of light, a modulation pattern, etc.For example, the color of the illumination pattern at a given time maybe specified by a hue and a saturation.

FIG. 20 presents a drawing illustrating communication within anenvironmental monitoring device 2010 during method 1900 (FIG. 19).During operation of environmental monitoring device 2010, processor 2012may receive sensor data 2020 associated with a sensor device 2014 basedon measurements of an environmental condition in the externalenvironment.

Then, processor 2012 may select an illumination pattern 2022 from a setof illumination patterns based on sensor data 2020. Alternatively oradditionally, a user 2016 may optionally provide a user selection 2024that specifies a desired illumination pattern to user-input mechanism2018, which is then provided to processor 2012. In response to thereceived user selection 2024, processor 2012 may change the selectedillumination pattern 2026.

Furthermore, one or more light sources 2028 may provide illumination2030 of at least a portion of the external environment based on theselected illumination pattern 2026.

In an exemplary embodiment, the environmental monitoring device of FIGS.19 and 20 is used to provide an illumination pattern in the environmentand sensor data based on a monitored environmental condition. Inparticular, home users (such as home owners, tenants roommates, etc.)and commercial users (such as office users, industrial users,hospitality users, etc.) often require or prefer lighting on walkwaysand other areas of their home or business at night. In addition, usersof both homes and businesses are often concerned about the environmentalquality in the environments that they are living and working in. Theenvironmental monitoring device may include a sensor device and mayprovide light (i.e., the illumination pattern) when desired by the user(e.g., at night), and may collect sensor data at any desired hour of theday, even when light may not be required or even desired by a user. Thesensor data may be used by a user to assess the quality of theirenvironment and determine if their environment is good and stable (e.g.,the air quality has low levels of volatile organic compounds andallergens). Alternatively, the user can determine if their environmentis potentially harmful or contains allergens that need to be addressed.

A light source in the environmental monitoring device may provide light(i.e., the illumination pattern) that can be for a variety ofapplications, such as: illuminating dark areas, signaling, displaylighting, photography, etc. This light source may be: a light emittingdiode, a plasma generation device, an incandescent light bulb, a lightfixture (with or without an installed light source), a flashlight, aheadlamp, a backlight for a screen, a photography flash device, a safetysignal, an emergency light, etc. Moreover, the light source may emitlight continuously, intermittently, modulated or in any other suitablevisual pattern. In one embodiment, upon powering up the light source,the environmental monitoring device increases and decreases thebrightness of the light source at a rate that simulates human breathingfor 30 seconds. Additionally, the wavelength or color output by thelight source may be: blue, white, yellow, or any other suitable hue, andcan be in the ultraviolet spectrum, visible light spectrum, infraredspectrum, or any other suitable range of wavelengths. These wavelengthranges and/or colors may be chosen to serve specific functions. Forexample, in one embodiment the light output from the lighting source maybe filtered to avoid wavelengths between 460 and 480 nm. Alternatively,the output light may be to only allow wavelengths of light greater than530 nm. In other embodiments, the light source has low output in thewavelengths between 460 and 480 nm or below 530 nm. Note thatwavelengths of light in the 460-480 nm range may be associated withdim-light melatonin onset, which may result in the depletion ofmelatonin levels. By filtering or choosing light sources with little orno output at wavelengths less than 530 nm, melatonin production in achild or an adult may not be disturbed during the night, and, therefore,their rest may be unaffected by the optical output from a nightlight. Inanother example, the color of the output light or of an illuminatedenvironmental monitoring device may provide visual feedback or anindication of the monitored environmental condition (such as ‘green’ forok, ‘yellow’ for concern, and ‘red’ for a warning, or ‘blue’ when thereis a wireless connection to another electronic device and flashing ‘red’when there is no wireless connection).

In some embodiments, the configuration and/or architecture of theenvironmental monitoring device may facilitate monitoring of one or moreenvironmental conditions. This is shown in FIG. 21, which presents ablock diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of an environmentalmonitoring device 2100. This environmental monitoring device may includea housing 2110 having walls that define a cavity 2112 within housing2110, and may include flow vents 2114 in at least one of the walls that,during operation of environmental monitoring device 2100, direct a fluidflow 2116 into and out of cavity 2112.

Moreover, environmental monitoring device 2100 may include a sensordevice 2118 within cavity 2112, which provides sensor data based onmeasurements of an environmental condition in an external environmentthat includes environmental monitoring device 2100. Furthermore,environmental monitoring device 2100 may include a processor 2120 (and,more generally, an integrated circuit) within cavity 2112, whichprocesses the sensor data. Note that fluid flow 2116 may be associatedwith operation of processor 2120, and processor 2120 may be positionedrelative to sensor device 2118 so that fluid flow 2116 is directed oversensor device 2118 to facilitate the measurements. Note that sensordevice 2118 and processor 2120 may be on a common circuit board 2108 ordifferent circuit boards.

Fluid flow 2116 may include a convective fluid flow associated with heatgenerated during operation of processor 2120. Alternatively oradditionally, environmental monitoring device 2100 may include anoptional fluid driver 2122 and, during operation of processor 2120,optional fluid driver 2122 may force fluid flow 2116 into and out ofcavity 2112 (and, thus, over sensor device 2118).

Additionally, sensor device 2118 may include a set of sensors, andenvironmental monitoring device 2100 may include an optional baffle 2124that directs fluid flow 2116 over a selected sensor in the set ofsensors. An orientation of optional baffle 2124 may be controlled byoptional steering mechanism 2126 (based on a control signal provided byprocessor 2120) and/or manually by a user of environmental monitoringdevice 2100. For example, the optional steering mechanism 2126 maycontrol optional baffle 2124 so that fluid flow 2116 is sequentiallydirected over different sensors in the set of sensors so that thesensors are polled, thereby facilitating temporal sampling of sensordata.

In an exemplary embodiment, the environmental monitoring device includesan air-intake mechanism that, during operation, allows air to enter intothe environmental monitoring device, and to pass by or over a sensordevice (such as a sensing array). The air-intake mechanism may belocated on the front face, the side, or the back face of theenvironmental monitoring device. Moreover, the air-intake mechanism maybe: a beveled groove, an opening, a series of perforations in thesurface of environmental monitoring device, or another suitable type ofventilation. The environmental monitoring device may include a fan tohelp draw air into the environmental monitoring device. This fan may be:an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, a blower, a mechanical flap, a turbine,etc. For example, the front face of the environmental monitoring device2100 may include a circular beveled groove through which air can enterand an axial fan located behind the groove that can draw air in.Alternatively, the front surface of the environmental monitoring devicemay have a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, apentagonal shape, hexagonal shape, or any other suitable polygon, andmay include rounded corners with perforations that allow air to flowinside the environmental monitoring device.

Furthermore, an air-output mechanism may allow air that has entered theenvironmental monitoring device to exit. This air-output mechanism mayinclude: a beveled groove, an exhaust port, a perforation, etc. Theair-output mechanism may be located on the front face, the side, or theback face of the environmental monitoring device. For example, the backsurface or face of the environmental monitoring device may include twoexhaust ports through which air can exit a chassis or housing.Alternatively, the back surface of the environmental monitoring devicemay include a perforated square through which air can flow.

Additionally, the components in the environmental monitoring device maybe arranged so heat generated during operation of one or more of thecomponents heats air being taken in through the air-intake mechanism.For example, the environmental monitoring device may have a chamber(e.g., a convection chamber) through which the heated air rises andexits the environmental monitoring device via the air-output mechanism.In some embodiments, a heating element is included near the thermallyradiating components to improve or increase the movement of air due toconvection of heat from the thermally radiating components. In someembodiments, air enters through the air-intake mechanism and into achamber, where it is heated by the thermally radiating components and/orthe heating element. As the temperature of the air increases, the aircan rise and circulate past the sensor device and out through theair-output mechanism.

Operation of environmental monitoring device 2100 is further shown inFIG. 22, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2200 forprocessing sensor data. This method may be performed by a processor inan environmental monitoring device 2100 in FIG. 21. In particular,during operation the processor may generate a fluid flow over a sensordevice (operation 2210) in the environmental monitoring device, wherethe fluid flow is associated with operation of the processor, and wherethe processor is positioned relative to the sensor device so that thefluid flow is directed over the sensor device to facilitatemeasurements. For example, the fluid flow may include a convective fluidflow associated with heat generated during operation of the processor.Alternatively or additionally, the environmental monitoring device mayinclude a fluid driver and, during operation of the processor, the fluiddriver may force the fluid flow into and out of a cavity in theenvironmental monitoring device (and, thus, over the sensor device).Thus, the fluid flow may include an airflow and the fluid driver mayinclude a fan, or the fluid flow may include a liquid flow and the fluiddriver may include a pump.

In some embodiments, a steering mechanism (such as a stepper motor)optionally changes an orientation of a baffle in the environmentalmonitoring device based on a selected sensor. In particular, theprocessor may optionally provide an output signal (operation 2212) tothe steering mechanism based on the selected sensor. Alternatively, anorientation of the baffle may change in response to an external forceapplied to the baffle (e.g., by a user of the environmental monitoringdevice).

Then, the processor may receive the sensor data (operation 2214) fromthe sensor device based on measurements of an environmental condition inthe external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice. Note that the sensor device may include: an air-quality sensor,a particle counter, and/or a volatile-organic-compound sensor.

Next, the processor may process the sensor data (operation 2216). Forexample, the processor may: analyze the sensor data, filter the sensordata, compare the sensor data to data from other environmentalmonitoring devices, and/or perform another operation.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device includes apower source that ensures that at least a subset of the functionality ofthe environmental monitoring device is available over a time interval(such as 10 years). This is shown in FIG. 23, which presents a blockdiagram illustrating an environmental monitoring device 2300. Inparticular, environmental monitoring device 2300 may include a sensordevice 2310 that provides sensor data based on measurements ofenvironmental conditions in an external environment that includesenvironmental monitoring device 2300. Moreover, a processor 2312 mayassess if the environmental conditions indicate an occurrence of atleast one of a set of threats (which includes one or more threats). Ifyes, processor 2312 may provide a corresponding alert. Furthermore,environmental monitoring device 2300 may include a power source 2314that includes a primary power source 2316 and a secondary power source2318, where secondary power source 2318 may have at least a 10-year lifeand may power at least a subset of the functionality of environmentalmonitoring device 2300 (such as minimal or basic safety functionality)in the event primary power source 2316 fails. For example, secondarypower source 2318 may include several batteries in parallel with eachother. Furthermore, secondary power source 2318 may be sealed into ornon-removable from environmental monitoring device 2300.

Note that the environmental conditions (and, thus, the set of threats)may include: presence of smoke, presence of carbon monoxide, fire, etc.Thus, sensor device 2310 may include a smoke detector that provides asmoke alert when smoke is present, and a carbon-monoxide detector thatprovides a carbon-monoxide alert when carbon monoxide is present.Moreover, the subset of the functionality may include providing an alertwhen smoke or carbon monoxide is present in the external environment. Inthis way, environmental monitoring device 2300 may be compliant withregulations that mandate that smoke detectors or carbon-monoxidedetector have at least 10-year life.

In some embodiments, environmental monitoring device 2300 includes anoptional electrical adaptor 2320 that can be electrically coupled to apower line. Alternatively or additionally, optional electrical adaptor2320 may include an electrical connector that can be rotatably coupledto a light socket (as illustrated in FIG. 8).

Furthermore, primary power source 2316 may include a rechargeablebattery. However, in other embodiments primary power source 2316includes a non-rechargeable battery. Additionally, primary power source2316 may be recharged via: a Universal Serial Bus connector and/or acellular-telephone charger cable. For example, power sources 2316 and2318 may be alternately or sequentially charged.

In some embodiments, primary power source 2316 is remateablymechanically and electrically coupled to environmental monitoring device2300. For example, primary power source 2316 may be removed from andreattached to environmental monitoring device 2300 using: a broom handleand/or a magnet. In particular, a broom handle can push on primary powersource 2316, which may cause primary power source 2316 to ‘pop out’ ofenvironmental monitoring device 2300. In particular, primary powersource 2316 may be removed from environmental monitoring device 2300 bya compressed spring when an external force is applied to undo a latch,and may be reattached to environmental monitoring device 2300 when anexternal force is applied to compress the spring and close the latch.(Note that this type of removable primary power source 2316 is sometimesreferred to as a ‘push-latched battery cartridge.’) Alternatively, if ashaft with a magnet remateably magnetically couples or attaches toprimary power source 2316, an external force (such as that supplied by auser pulling on the shaft) may be applied to primary power source 2316to overcome friction, a force associated with bilateral protrusions orbumps in a housing surrounding primary power source 2316, and/or a forceassociated with a magnet in the housing. In these ways, primary powersource 2316 may be removed from environmental monitoring device 2300and/or subsequently reinserted or replaced. This is shown in FIG. 24,which presents a drawing illustrating environmental monitoring device2400.

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more power sources can be removed orplaced into the environmental monitoring device using assistancemechanism. The assistance mechanism may include: a ring, a hook, amagnetic strip, a rare earth magnet, a latch, a sticky material (such asdouble-sided tape), etc. For example, a power supply in theenvironmental monitoring device may include a battery that can beremoved from a chassis or housing of the environmental monitoringdevice. This battery may be encased in a battery package or batteryholder, which includes features (such as the assistance mechanism) thatfacilitate removal or placement of the battery. In some embodiments, anaccessory-removal assistance device (such as a pole or broom handle) isused to facilitate easy removal of the battery package from a distance.In particular, the battery package may include a loop through which theaccessory-removal assistance device can be hooked and pulled so that thebattery package and the power supply separate from the main chassis ofthe environmental monitoring device. This loop may be embedded withinthe battery package and may protrude after a switch is depressed, atwhich point the battery package can be separated from the main chassis.Alternatively, a magnet may be embedded in the battery package so thatit can be pulled away from the body of the chassis using another magneton the accessory-removal assistance device.

Operation of environmental monitoring device 2300 (FIG. 23) is furthershown in FIG. 25, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method2500 for providing an alert. In particular, during operation theenvironmental monitoring device may provide power from a power source(operation 2510) in the environmental monitoring device to a sensordevice and a processor. The power source may include a primary powersource and a secondary power source. Furthermore, the secondary powersource may have at least the 10-year life and may power at least thesubset of the functionality of the environmental monitoring device inthe event the primary power source fails. Then, the sensor device maymeasure the environmental condition (operation 2512) in the externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover,the processor may assess if the environmental conditions indicates theoccurrence of at least the one of the set of threats (operation 2514)based on the measurements. For example, the set of threats may includeone or more threats, such as the presence of carbon monoxide, thepresence of smoke, fire, etc. If not, method 2500 may end. Otherwise, ifat least the one of the set of threats is present, the processor mayprovide the corresponding alert (operation 2516).

In some embodiments, a mounting system is used to mount theenvironmental monitoring device on an external surface, such as a wall,ceiling, floor and/or a suitable surface in the external environment.This is shown in FIG. 26, which presents a block diagram illustrating amounting system 2600. In particular, mounting system 2600 may include abase 2610 that can be rigidly mounted on an external surface (such as toa stud, a conduit box or a junction box in a wall 2612, using screws,nails, glue, sticky tack, or another suitable fastener). This base mayhave a mating surface 2614 with negative features 2616 (such as femalereceptors or holes) in recessed regions below mating surface 2614.Moreover, mounting system 2600 may include environmental monitoringdevice 2618 having a mating surface 2620 with positive features 2622(such as male receptors or pins), which correspond to negative features2616, protruding above mating surface 2620, where mating surface 2620faces mating surface 2614, and where positive features 2622 can beremateably coupled to negative features 2616. In some embodiments, theremateable coupling involves the use of a tool, such as a wrench or anAllen or hex key that is used to release a locking mechanism (e.g., alock nut). (However, in other embodiments a tool is not used.) Note thatthe remateable coupling may involve: pushing positive features 2622 intonegative features 2616; rotating environmental monitoring device 2618relative to base 2610 about an axis 2624 perpendicular to mating surface2614 so that positive features 2622 interlock with negative features2616; and applying a torque about axis 2624 to snap positive features2622 into a lock position in negative features 2616.

In some embodiments, base 2610 can be electrically coupled to anexternal power line. Thus, the remateable coupling may includemechanical coupling and/or electrical coupling.

Furthermore, positive features 2622 can be remateably decoupled fromnegative features 2616. This remateable decoupling may involve: applyinga torque to environmental monitoring device 2618 relative to base 2610about axis 2624 in an opposite sense to the torque used to remateablycouple positive features 2622 and negative features 2616 until positivefeatures 2622 snap out of the lock position; rotating environmentalmonitoring device 2618 relative to base 2610 about axis 2624 in anopposite sense to the rotation used to remateably couple positivefeatures 2622 and negative features 2616; and pulling positive features2622 out of negative features 2616.

To prevent or deter theft of environmental monitoring device 2618, insome embodiments environmental monitoring device 2618 is registered asbelonging at a particular location, and can only be moved ifenvironmental monitoring device 2618 receives a security code. Forexample, the security code may be supplied wirelessly from an electronicdevice (such as a cellular telephone) and/or may be entered into a userinterface 2626. Moreover, a sensor device in environmental monitoringdevice 2618 may monitor a spatial parameter of environmental monitoringdevice 2618. If a change in the spatial parameter relative to base 2610exceeds a threshold value (such as a relative change in the spatialparameter of 10 or 25%) without environmental monitoring device 2618first receiving the security code, environmental monitoring device 2618may provide an alert (such as outputting an audible alarm or wirelesslycommunicating an alert message to the electronic device) and/or maydisable environmental monitoring device 2618. An external system adaptedto receive data from environmental monitoring device 2618 may provide analert if a data connection or data transmission is interrupted or ceasedin this way. Note that the spatial parameter may include a location ofenvironmental monitoring device 2618, a velocity of environmentalmonitoring device 2618 and/or an acceleration of environmentalmonitoring device 2618. Thus, the spatial parameter may include: aderivative of the location, an integration of the velocity and/or adouble integration of the acceleration.

FIG. 27 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2700 for mountingan environmental monitoring device, such as environmental monitoringdevice 2618 (FIG. 26). During this method, positive features, protrudingabove a first mating surface of an environmental monitoring device, maybe inserted into corresponding negative features (operation 2710) on asecond mating surface of a base. Then, the environmental monitoringdevice may be rotated relative to the base (operation 2712) about anaxis perpendicular to the second mating surface so that the positivefeatures interlock with the negative features. Next, a torque may beapplied about the axis (operation 2714) to snap the positive featuresinto a lock position in the negative features.

A variation on the mounting system is shown in FIG. 28, which presents ablock diagram illustrating a mounting system 2800. In particular, thismounting system may include a base 2810 that can be rigidly mounted onan external surface (such as to a stud, a conduit box or a junction boxin a wall 2812 having a thickness). This base may have a mating surface2814 that includes magnetic coupling elements 2816 (e.g., threepermanent magnets or electromagnets in a triangular arrangement).Moreover, mounting system 2800 may include an environmental monitoringdevice 2818 having a mating surface 2820 with magnet coupling elements2822 (e.g., three permanent magnets or electromagnets in a triangulararrangement), where the mating surface 2820 faces mating surface 2814,and where magnet coupling elements 2816 can be remateably coupled tomagnet coupling elements 2822 (e.g., via a magnetic field betweenmagnetic coupling elements 2816 and 2822). In some embodiments, theremateable coupling involves the use of a tool, such as a wrench or anAllen or hex key that is used to release a locking mechanism (e.g., alock nut). (However, in other embodiments a tool is not used.) Theremateable coupling may involve: positioning mating surface 2820 withina predefined distance (such as 2-3 cm or more than the thickness of wall2812, which may be ⅝ or ¾ in) from mating surface 2814 along an axis2824 perpendicular to mating surface 2814; and positioning magnetcoupling elements 2816 substantially overlapping (such as an overlap ofmore than 50%) magnet coupling elements 2822.

Moreover, base 2810 can be electrically coupled to an external powerline. Thus, the remateable coupling may include mechanical couplingand/or electrical coupling. Furthermore, base 2810 may include aninductive charging mechanism (ICM) 2826 that inductively charges a powersource or supply (not shown) in the environmental monitoring device 2818when magnet coupling elements 2816 are remateably coupled to magneticcoupling elements 2822. Alternatively or additionally, inductivecharging mechanism 2826 may inductively provide power to environmentalmonitoring device 2818 when magnet coupling elements 2816 are remateablycoupled to magnetic coupling elements 2822.

In some embodiments, magnetic coupling elements 2816 can be remateablydecoupled from magnetic coupling elements 2822. This remateabledecoupling may involve pulling on environmental monitoring device 2818along axis 2824 until a coupling force associated with magnetic couplingelements 2816 and 2822 is exceeded.

To prevent or deter theft of environmental monitoring device 2818, insome embodiments environmental monitoring device 2818 is registered asbelonging at a particular location, and can only be moved ifenvironmental monitoring device 2818 receives a security code. Forexample, the security code may be supplied wirelessly from an electronicdevice (such as a cellular telephone) and/or may be entered into a userinterface 2828. Moreover, a sensor device in environmental monitoringdevice 2818 may monitor a spatial parameter of environmental monitoringdevice 2818. If a change in the spatial parameter relative to base 2810exceeds a threshold value (such as a relative change in the spatialparameter of 10 or 25%) without environmental monitoring device 2818first receiving the security code, environmental monitoring device 2818may provide an alert (such as outputting an audible alarm or wirelesslycommunicating an alert message to the electronic device) and/or maydisable environmental monitoring device 2818. An external system adaptedto receive data from environmental monitoring device 2818 may provide analert if a data connection or data transmission is interrupted or ceasedin this way. Note that the spatial parameter may include a location ofenvironmental monitoring device 2818, a velocity of environmentalmonitoring device 2818 and/or an acceleration of environmentalmonitoring device 2818. Thus, the spatial parameter may include: aderivative of the location, an integration of the velocity and/or adouble integration of the acceleration.

FIG. 29 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2900 for mountingan environmental monitoring device, such as environmental monitoringdevice 2818 (FIG. 28). During this method, first magnetic couplingelements, on a first mating surface of an environmental monitoringdevice, may be aligned with corresponding second magnetic couplingelements (operation 2910) on a second surface of a base. Then, the firstmagnetic coupling elements and the second magnetic coupling elements maybe remateably coupled (operation 2912) by a magnetic field between thefirst magnetic coupling elements and the second magnetic couplingelements. For example, the magnetic field may induce an electric fieldthat results in a force of attraction between the environmentalmonitoring device and the base.

While positive and negative features and magnetic coupling elements wereused as illustrations in the preceding embodiments, in other embodimentsthe environmental monitoring device is remateably coupled to the baseusing: hooks, adhesive, screws, snaps, Velcro, and/or another suitableconnector.

In some embodiments of one or more of the preceding methods, there maybe additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order of theoperations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combinedinto a single operation. For example, in FIG. 19, instead of or inaddition to changing the illumination pattern, the environmentalmonitoring device may change an operating mode in response to image dataand/or sensor data. In addition, in some of the preceding embodimentsthere are fewer components, more components, a position of a componentis changed and/or two or more components are combined.

A wide variety of materials may be used to fabricate the environmentalmonitoring device (and, in particular, the housing or chassis of theenvironmental monitoring device), including: organic materials (such asplastic, polyethylene, wood, etc.), inorganic materials (such as ametal), glass, concrete, rubber, a semiconductor, a fabric, etc.Moreover, the housing or chassis may be transparent or opaque.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possibleembodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the contextof a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, theforegoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description only. Theyare not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure tothe forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations willbe apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments andapplications without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments isnot intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed herein.

1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising: an acoustic sensorconfigured to provide acoustic data based on measurements of sound in anexternal environment that includes the environmental monitoring device;a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the acoustic sensor,configured to determine if an alarm device, which is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acousticdata; a sensor mechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configuredto provide sensor data when a biological life form is present in theexternal environment; an antenna; and an interface circuit, coupled tothe antenna and the control mechanism, configured to communicate thatthe biological life form is present to an electronic device in responseto an output signal from the control mechanism, wherein the controlmechanism is configured to determine if the biological life form ispresent in the external environment based on the sensor data; andwherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the output signalif the alarm device is activated and the biological life form ispresent.
 2. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein thealarm device includes a smoke detector; and wherein the controlmechanism is configured to determine if the smoke detector is activatedbased on a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with anAmerican National Standards Institute standard S3.42
 1990. 3. Theenvironmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the environmentalmonitoring device further comprises an acoustic output mechanismelectrically coupled to the control mechanism; wherein the controlmechanism is configured to provide an output signal that indicates thealarm device is activated; and wherein the acoustic output mechanism isconfigured to output audible sound in the external environment based onthe output signal.
 4. The environmental monitoring device of claim 3,wherein the environmental monitoring device further comprises a sensormechanism, coupled to the control mechanism, configured to providesensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in theexternal environment; wherein the control mechanism is configured toassess a degree of threat in the external environment based on thesensor data and to modify the output signal when the threat changes; andwherein the acoustic output mechanism is configured to change theaudible sound based on the modified output signal.
 5. The environmentalmonitoring device of claim 4, wherein the change to the audible soundprovides quantitative feedback about the degree of the threat.
 6. Theenvironmental monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the sensor mechanismincludes a smoke detector and the alarm device includes acarbon-monoxide detector.
 7. The environmental monitoring device ofclaim 4, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a carbon-monoxidedetector and the alarm device includes a smoke detector.
 8. (canceled)9. The environmental monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the interfacecircuit is further configured to communicate a location of theenvironmental monitoring device to the electronic device in response tothe output signal.
 10. A computer-program product for use in conjunctionwith an environmental monitoring device, the computer-program productcomprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and acomputer-program mechanism embedded therein to determine if an alarmdevice is activated, the computer-program mechanism including:instructions for receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in theenvironmental monitoring device, wherein the acoustic data is based anmeasurements of sound in an external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device; instructions for determining if thealarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoringdevice, is activated based on the acoustic data; instructions forreceiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device wherein the sensor data indicates that a biologicallife form is present in the external environment; instructions fordetermining if the biological life form is present in the externalenvironment based on the sensor data; and instructions for providing anoutput signal to an interface circuit in the environmental monitoringdevice if the alarm device is activated and the biological life form ispresent, wherein the interface circuit communicates that the biologicallife form is present to an electronic, device in response to the outputsignal.
 11. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the alarmdevice includes a smoke detector; and wherein the determining is basedon a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatible with an AmericanNational Standards Institute standard S3.42
 1990. 12. Thecomputer-program product of claim 10, wherein the computer-programmechanism further includes instructions for providing an output signalthat indicates the alarm device is activated to an acoustic outputmechanism in the environmental monitoring device; and wherein theacoustic output mechanism outputs audible sound in the externalenvironment based on the output signal.
 13. The computer-program productof claim 12, wherein the computer-program mechanism further includes:instructions for receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device, wherein the sensor data is based onmeasurements of an environmental condition in the external environment;and instructions for assessing a degree of threat in the externalenvironment based on the sensor data; and instructions for modifying theoutput signal when the threat changes, wherein the acoustic outputmechanism changes the audible sound based on the modified output signal.14. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the change to theaudible sound provides quantitative feedback about the degree of thethreat.
 15. (canceled)
 16. A control-mechanism-implemented method fordetermining if an alarm device is activated, wherein the methodcomprises: receiving acoustic data from an acoustic sensor in theenvironmental monitoring device, wherein the acoustic data is based onmeasurements of sound in an external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device; using the control mechanism,determining if the alarm device, which is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device, is activated based on the acousticdata; receiving sensor data from a sensor mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device, wherein the sensor data indicates that a biologicallife form is present in the external environment; determining if thebiological life form is present in the external environment based on thesensor data; and providing an output signal to an interface circuit inthe environmental monitoring device if the alarm device is activated andthe biological life form is present, wherein the interface circuitcommunicates that the biological life form is present to an electronicdevice in response to the output signal.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the alarm device includes a smoke detector; and wherein thedetermining is based on a temporal 3 acoustic pattern that is compatiblewith an American National Standards Institute standard S3.42
 1990. 18.The method of claim 16, wherein the method further includes providing anoutput signal that indicates the alarm device is activated to anacoustic output mechanism in the environmental monitoring device; andwherein the acoustic output mechanism outputs audible sound in theexternal environment based on the output signal.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein the method further includes: receiving sensor data from asensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, wherein thesensor data is based on measurements of an environmental condition inthe external environment, assessing a degree of threat in the externalenvironment based on the sensor data; and modifying the output signalwhen the threat changes, wherein the acoustic output mechanism changesthe audible sound based on the modified output signal.
 20. (canceled)21. The computer-program product of claim 13, wherein the sensormechanism includes a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarm deviceincludes a smoke detector.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein thechange to the audible sound provides quantitative feedback about thedegree of the threat.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensormechanism includes a carbon-monoxide detector and the alarm deviceincludes a smoke detector.